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Edre U. Olalia, NUPL secretary general, said they would hold the military and the police and Commander-in-Chief President Aquino himself accountable if any harm is inflicted on Salucon.
"The military cannot say that they do not have the money to transport their witnesses. It has all the resources—helicopters, tanks and all kinds of vehicles—and a huge budget. It is their duty to bring their witnesses without delay.” – Mrs. Erlinda Cadapan, mother of Sherlyn
Lawyers of the Tiamzon couple asked the court, presided by Judge Madonna Echiverri, to give them five days to study the records and the evidence so they could appraise their clients about the charges being filed against them, but the court proceeded with the arraignment.
“If any harm is inflicted on Atty. Dannug-Salucon or to any of her staff or family members, we shall hold the military and the police and Commander-in-Chief President Aquino himself accountable given the documented harassment and surveillance being made against her.” – Edre Olalia, National Union of People’s Lawyers
“Why should they [police] put the burden of shedding light to the killing on the office mates and relatives of the victim? It is the police’s job to find evidence that would lead to the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators.” -- CHRA
“This is a clear violation of the rights of Rosal. Aside from the fabricated charges filed against her, she should have been released due to her condition.” – Karapatan
In 2012, William Bugatti was in the list of "target persons" of the 86th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army under the 5th Infantry Division where he was described as a human rights officer and "utak ng NPA" (brains of the NPA).
“I know that we [activists] are targets since this is a desperate act of the government to silence its critics and to paralyze the legal movement.” – Christian Tuayon
Romeo Capalla, 65, chairperson of the Board of Directors and former manager of Panay Fair Trade Center, was accompanying his mother-in-law at the Oton Public Market when fired upon by gunmen.
“If he died in an encounter, they would not hear anything from us. Our family would just claim his body. But when we learned that he was still alive when he was taken by the soldiers and the police and ended up dead while in their custody, we are determined to fight for justice.” ˆGene Campaner, brother of slain NPA guerrilla
“Legal proceedings are expensive and inaccessible to the poor while constitutional rights have remained ‘paper rights’ and international treaties on human rights as ‘lip service.’ – National Union of People’s Lawyers
The petitioners maintained that public prosecutor Rosulo Vivero committed “prosecutorial misconduct when he knowingly used recycled and falsified evidence as basis to file multiple murder charges.”
Freddie Ligiw was supposed to meet with human rights groups to narrate how he was forcibly used as a guide by soldiers from the 41st IBPA of the AFP when he went missing. The bodies of Freddie, his brother and father were later found in a shallow grave.
“The human rights situation under the Aquino administration is as worrisome as the situation during the Macapagal-Arroyo administration. Perpetrators from state security forces are not being held accountable for their crimes, and much worse, they get juicy promotions, thereby keeping and perpetuating themselves in power." – Ecumenical Voice
The NUPL vowed to file countercharges against the police “to teach them a lesson that they are supposed to be law enforcers and should respect the rights of citizens.”
Randy Vegas and Raul Camposano are organizers of government employees under Courage and yet they are to be charged in court because of accusations that they participated in two ambuscades of the New People’s Army – one in Camarines Norte, in southern part of Luzon island and another in Ifugao at the far north – which allegedly occurred just days apart.
“The appointment of a PC [Philippine Constabulary] relic to head the claims board is not only a grievous insult to the struggle against martial law but is also a shameless denial of the ideals of asserting freedom and democracy that was highlighted during the first Edsa People Power uprising in 1986.” – SELDA
“To address impunity, it’s not enough to pass laws. Laws have to be enforced. They have to work in a way that the rights of the people who do not have economic power are protected.”
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