“To threaten our judges and our lawyers is no less than an assault on the Judiciary,” said Supreme Court Spokesperson Atty. Brian Keith Hosaka as he read the statement issued by the Supreme Court (SC) En Banc amidst the recent attacks on members of the legal profession.
In a recorded video, Hosaka relayed that the High Court has received various letters and manifestations on this matter and decried such threats since “to assault the judiciary is to shake the very bedrock on which the rule of law stands. This cannot be allowed in a civilized society like ours. This cannot go undenounced on the Court’s watch.”
“In this light, the court condemns in the strongest sense every instance where a lawyer is threatened or killed and where a judge is threatened and unfairly labelled,” Hosaka continued.
To address the issue, the SC asked the lower courts and law enforcement offices to furnish them a copy of relevant information of each and every threat or killings of lawyer or judge within the past year. They were asked to do this within this month and the whole month of April.
“We also urge the public including public interest organizations, lawyers and judges to provide us with vetted information on any incident of such threat or killing” the SC added.
The SC’S Public Information Office was designated to receive and collect the data and to provide the High Court a report before its deliberations en banc scheduled on the last week of April 2021 where they will determine the next course of action.
The Court resolved to work on, deliberate and promulgate rules on the use of body cameras for the issuing of search and arrest warrants.
“This is without prejudice to the courts deliberations on whether we can cover with our rules of procedure, the conduct of buy bust operations and the enforcement of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs,” the SC spokesperson further explained.
The High Tribunal also ordered the Office of the Court Administrator to:
1. Coordinate with the relevant law enforcement agencies to investigate the most recent incident of a judge being subject of a tarpaulin linking her to organizations considered by law enforcers as communists and rebels.
2. Survey among trial courts and Shari’ah Judges the extent of threats they have received within the last 10 years, the resulting report would be the basis of further action by the court.
The SC has already coordinated with all concerned to provide security and counseling to affected judges. The Court is ready to provide and coordinate security arrangements for any judge or justice who is similarly threatened.
Hosaka noted that “all letters that contain specific incidents to the relevant trial courts which will then order the parties to convert such letters into the proper remedies such as but not limited to petitions for the Writs of Amparo or Habeas Data.”
All lawyers and judges who experienced harassments were urged to come forward and file necessary motions, petitions, or complaints.
The Supreme Court ensured the public that “it will continue to unflinchingly comply with our constitutional duty to act decisively when it is clear that injustices are done.”
“True to the just virtues we all must fight for, our resolve is unqualified: we recognize the bravery of all the judges and the lawyers who show up to administer justice, in the face of fear. Let there be no doubt the Supreme Court stands with them,” the SC concluded. – Kenneth Paciente
