ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ON:

“CRISIS IN THE RULE OF LAW – SEEKING NATIONAL
& INTERNATIONAL REMEDIES”
September 25, 2006
UP Law Center, Diliman, Q.C.

On September 25, 2006 CenPEG held a Roundtable Discussion on the emerging phenomenon of extrajudicial killings around the country.

Most of the victims were civilians who have either pursued or supported political causes or have been critical of government. They include farmers, workers, lawyers, teachers, students, pastors, priests, media practitioners, and even human rights advocates.

Alongside these killings is the observed rise in the number of heinous crimes purportedly perpetrated by criminal syndicates. However, in most cases, even law enforcers fail in observing proper rules of engagement and violate the laws themselves. In addition, public trust in the judicial system has significantly waned due to the slow delivery of justice (or the lack of it).

In the light of these alarming developments, CenPEG saw the need for an immediate and thorough analysis of the issue of extra-judicial killings and how the government has responded to this phenomenon. Has the state adequately delivered in its role and responsibility to protect the people and uphold the rule of law? More pointedly, is there a crisis of law?

Specific Objectives of the RTD
The RTD on “Crisis in the Rule of Law” had the following specific objectives:

1. Gain better understanding of the issue of extra-judicial killings and the rule of law by providing a venue for exchange of ideas, data and analysis among different sectors and groups/organizations affected or involved in the issue;
2. Broaden people’s participation in the issue by inviting individuals and key representatives from varied sectors, groups and organizations directly or indirectly involved in the issue, such as human rights advocates (local and international), government, people’s organizations, legal professionals, local government units, media, and the academe;
3. Provide substantial data and analysis on the issue to be used in the production of popular education materials for dissemination among basic sectors and the general public through media;
4. Craft a concrete action plan consisting of specific policy recommendations, among others, for reference and appropriate action by concerned government agencies;

Target Outputs

1. Forge partnerships and share information and resources with different groups and sectors committed to make national laws consistent with international conventions on human rights;
2. Document and publicize the results of the RTD for meaningful advocacy and aid in legislation and other policy reforms;
3. Produce a multimedia presentation of the RTD’s outputs for posting in the web

Co-sponsors: Transparency International Phils.
Movement for the Restoration of Peace and Order
Institute of International Legal Studies, UP Law Center
Karapatan/Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights
Amnesty International Phils.
Philippine Political Science Association
UP Manila Political Science Program

Main Speaker: Dr. Purificacion V. Quisumbing
Chair, Commission on Human Rights

Reactors:

1. Ms. Teresita Ang See
   Founding Chair, Movement for the Restoration of Peace and Order
2. Dr. Edelina de la Paz
   Chairperson, Karapatan/Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights
3. Atty. Harry Roque
   Director, Institute of International Legal Studies, UP Law Center
4. Ms. Jessica Soto
   Executive Director, Amnesty International Philippines

Participants:
Ret. Gen. Romeo Padiernos
Prof. Roland Simbulan – Faculty Regent, UP System
Atty. Jose Manuel Diokno – Chair, FLAG
Dr. Aurora Roxas-Lim – Asian Center, UP Diliman
Atty. Louie Guia – President, LIBERTAS
May Rodriguez – NUJP
Dr. Carmen Abubakar – Institute of Islamic Studies, UP Diliman
Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc.
Filipino Migrant Workers Group
UPLB College of Public Affairs

Guests and observers:
Asia Foundation
UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies
Families of Victims of Extra-judicial Killings and Common Crimes
Foreign Embassies:
1. Swiss Embassy
2. Dutch Embasssy
3. Finnish Embassy
4. Canadian Embassy

A STATEMENT OF CONCERN ON THE CRISIS OF LAW AND THE DETERIORATING HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

We, the discussants and participants of the Round-Table Discussion on “Crisis in the Rule of Law,” sponsored by the Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG), together with Transparency International-Philippines, the Movement for the Restoration of Peace and Order, Karapatan, Amnesty International-Philippines, the Philippine Political Science Association and the UP Manila’s Political Science Program, hereby declare that:

Alarmed at the deteriorating human rights condition in the Philippines and threats to civil liberties of the people including freedom of the press and of expression, a situation which has also drawn concern and indignation here and in the international community;

Concerned with the failure of the Philippines’ police, legal and judicial system in addressing the worsening human rights situation including the plight of victims of criminality;

Concerned likewise with the worsening state of corruption in the country which erodes into basic governance and service to the people resulting in the loss of trust by the people in the government;

Noting the failure of government to show its compliance to international laws and conventions of which the Philippines is a signatory, and consequently, in aligning the country’s legal system to such international laws and conventions most especially in the protection of human rights, the rights of the Moros and indigenous peoples, of women and children and other marginal and vulnerable sectors of the society;

Concur and support the following:

1. Encouraging the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to pursue complaints of human rights violations, and for the Department of Justice (DoJ) to act expeditiously on numerous cases already submitted by the CHR for prosecution so that justice will be served on the victims and their surviving kin and those found guilty meted out corresponding punishment;
2. Supporting the mission of non-government human rights organizations in the Philippines in their defense of the people’s civil and political rights, in their investigation of human rights violations and in their quest for justice for the victims of human rights violations and their families;
3. Urging the Philippine government to strengthen the Witness Protection Program as a step toward the judicious resolution of crime cases and rendering justice as well as restoring the people’s trust in the justice system;
4. Urging the country’s citizens-based anti-corruption watchdogs to streamline their work for more effective monitoring of corruption cases and that collaborative programs and other measures should be adopted to advance the common goal of combating corruption;
5. That the results of this RTD be published in any form for popular dissemination in the interest of public education.

Done this September 25, 2006, at the UP Law Center in Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines.