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Know Your Rights 4: Salvaging

August 27, 2016August 27, 2016 mcmangahas

* Inilathala ng Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG)
* Isinalin sa Filipino ng Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ)

Know Your Rights 4-1

KUNG ANG PANIWALA MO AY HUHULIHIN KA O ISA-SALVAGE
IF YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL BE ARRESTED OR SALVAGED

Gawin ang mga sumusunod na hakbang pag-iingat:

* Huwag lumabas ng bahay na nag-iisa. Ang mga kaso ng disappearance at salvaging o extrajudicial killing ay dumarami kapag walang witness na pwedeng tumestigo ukol sa paghuli sa mga biktima.

* Iwasan ang mga kugar kung saan walang nakakakilala sa iyo.

* Huwag manatiling nag-iisa sa bahay o saan mang lugar.

* Sabihan ang iyong pamilya at mga kaibigan na may posibilidad na ikaw ay ma-aresto at kung ano ang dapat nilang gawin sakaling mangyari ito. Sabihan sila kung sino ang dapat hingan ng tulong, paano sila ma-kontak, at kung saan-saan ka dapat hanapin.

* Bago lumabas ng bahay, sabihan ang iyong pamilya ang mga kaibigan kung saan ka pupunta, kanino ka makikipagkita, gaano katagal kang mawawala, at kung ano ang dapat nilang gawin sakaling hindi ka makabalik sa oras, o hindi makarating sa iyong destinasyon o appointment. Kung may cell phone ka, mag-text sa mga kaibigan at pamilya para malaman nilang nakarating ka na sa iyong detsinasyon at allis muli sa susnod na apppintment.

* Kapag lumalabas ng bahay, palagiang magdala ng sapat nd identification cards, at iwasang magbiibit ng anumang delikadong bagay na maaring ituring na incriminating.

* Sakaling ikaw ay arestuhin, tiyakin na alam ng mga tao sa paligid na ikaw ay inaaresto at kung sino-sino ang umaaresto sa iyo. Kung kakailangan, sumigaw o gumwa ng eksena upang maakit angpansin ng mga tao sa paligid na ikaw ay inaaresto. Kung may cellphone ka, tumawag o mag-text sa iyong pamilya, mga kaibigan, at abogado upang malaman nila na ikaw ay inaaresto.

* Ang nga kaso ng disappearance o salvaging ay maaring mabawasan kung masasamahan o masusundan ka ng iyong pamilya, mga kaibigan, at mga tao sa paligid matapos na ikaw ay maaresto. Sa ganitong paraan, malalaman ng mga pulis na marami ang may alam na ikaw ay nahuli at mahalaga sa kanila ang iyong kaligtasan. Agad-agad, sabihan ang iyong abogado o isang respetadong miyembro sa lokalidad (pari, guro, doktor, civic leader) kung ano ang nagyari, at hilingin na mabilisang dumalaw sila sa iyo.

* Habang nakakulong na, dapat na bisitahin ka agad-agad ng iyong pamilya at mga kaibigan at padalhan ng mga gamit (pagkain, babasahin, gamot, damit, atbp) sa mga araw na bawal silang bumisita, Huwag pumayag na mailabas ka ng detention center nang walang kasamang abogado o miyembro ng pamilya mo.

* Kahit na may matibay kang impormasyon na huhulihin o isa-salvage ka na, hindi dapat magtago. Mas mainam na papuntahin ang iyong abugado o iba pang responsableng kinatawan upang magtanong kung meron ngang warrant of arrest para sa iyo, at upang humiling ng appointment na maiharap ka ng personal sa mga otoridad, nang may sapat na garantiya sa iyong kaligtasan.

Samantala, ihanda ang sarili — aralin nang lubos ang iyong mga karapatan, alamin kung ano ang dapat mong gawin sakaling ikaw ay mahuli, at siguruhing ikaw ay ligtas at protektado ang iyong mga karapatan.

IF YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL BE ARRESTED OR SALVAGED

Take the following precautions:
* Do not go out alone. The risk of enforced disappearance and extrajudicial execution or “salvaging” increases if no one witnesses or is willing to testify to the arrest of the person who disappeared or was salvaged.
* Avoid going to places where no one knows you.
* Do not stay at home or elsewhere alone.
* Tell your family or friends of the possibility of your being arrested, and what to do in case you are arrested. Tell them specifically who to run to for help, how to get in touch with them, and where to search for you.
* Before going out, tell your family or friends where you are going, whom you will see, why, how long you expect to be out, and what to do if you fail to return on time, or fail to reach your destination or keep your appointment. If you own a cell phone, send a text message to your friends or family informing them that you have reached your destination and are proceeding to your next appointment.
* When you go out, always carry adequate identification, and avoid carrying anything that could be construed as incriminating.
* In case you are being arrested, see to it that people know that you are being arrested and by whom. If necessary, shout or make a scene to attract attention to your arrest. If you own a cell phone, call or send a text message to your family, friends, and lawyers to inform them that you are being arrested.
* Disappearances and salvaging can be prevented or minimized if your family, friends or even bystanders will accompany or follow you and your arresting officers to learn where you are being taken and to show concern over your safety. As soon as possible, they should notify a lawyer or respected member of the community (a priest, teacher, doctor, or civic leader) who, in turn, should try to visit you immediately.
* During detention, your family and friends should visit you as often as possible, and send things to you (food, magazine, medicines, clothes, etc.) on days they cannot or are not allowed to visit. Never agree to be taken out of jail or the detention center by anyone unless accompanied by your lawyer or a member of your family.
* Even if you have reliable information that there is a plan to arrest or salvage you, it is not advisable to go into hiding. Instead, request your lawyer or other responsible person to inquire if there is a warrant for your arrest, and if there is, to arrange for you to present yourself to the proper authorities under adequate guarantee for your safety. Meanwhile, prepare yourself by reviewing your rights and deciding what you will do if you are arrested, to protect your safety and enforce your rights.

Know your Rights 3: Arrests

August 27, 2016August 27, 2016 mcmangahas

* Inilathala ng Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG)
* Isinalin sa Filipino ng Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ)

Know Your Rights 3-1

KAPAG IKAW AY INAARESTO

TANDAAN

* Kumalma lang. Ang pagka-aresto ay hindi katapusan ng mundo. Tumutok sa bawat pangyayaring nagaganap upang mabawasan ang pangamba, at huwag mag-alala sa mga kung ano ang susunod na mangyayari.

* Humiling sa isang kamag-anak, kaibigan, o taong di kilala (kunin ang pangalan at address) na maging witness sa paghuli sa iyo. Kung may cell phone, mag-text sa iyong pamilya, mga kaibigan, at abogado, para malaman nilang ikaw ay inaaresto. Tawagan sila at hayaan buhay ang linya ng telepono upang madinig nila ang nangyaryari.

* Kunin ang pangalan, opisyal na position, opisina at unit, ng mga tao na umaaresto sa iyo.

* Hingin ang kopya ng kanilang warrant of arrest para sa iyo at suriin itong mabuti. Alamin kung tumpak ang pangngalan mo na nakasulat sa warrant at kung ano ang paglabag sa batas na dahilan ng pag-aresto sa iyo.

* Kung may mali o depekto ang warrant, ipahayag ang iyong pagtutol pero huwag pumalag o gumamit ng dahas.

* Kung ikaw ay ligal na inaaresto, maaring kang kapkapan para sa posiblen deadly weapons or anuman bagay na dala mo na maaring gamiting katibayan para sa krimen na dahilan kung bakit ka inaaresto.

* Alamin sa iyong arresting officer kung saan ka dadalhin. Pilitin na dapat ay may kasama kang kamag-anak, kaibigan o di-kilalang tao na naka-witness ng iyong pag-aresto. Sabihin sa arresting officer na ito ay para na rin sa proteksyon ninyong dalawa.

* Hilingin na payagan kang tumawag sa iyong abogado; kapag tumanggi, sabihan ang iyong kamag-anak, kaibigan, o ibang witness sa iyong pagka-aretso na sila ang tumwag sa iyong abogado. Ipaalam sa iyong abogado ang mga pangyayari, ang pangaan ng iyong arresting officers, ang dahilan ng iyong pagka-aresto, at kung saan ka dadalhin ng arresting team.

* Sa lahat ng pagkakataon, huwag tutulan ng pisikal ang pag-aresto sa iyo. Ipahayag na ikaw ay tutol sa iyong pagka-aresto wala kang waiver o pagtalikod na gagawin sa lahat ng karapatan mo, at sasama ka nang mahihahon sa arresting team para iwasan ang karahasan.

* Kung ang humuhuli sa iyo ay naasuot sibilyan o hindi unipormado, or tumatangging ibigay ang kanilang pangalan, o walang maipakita na warrant of arrest, huwag sumama sa kanila. Hilingin na tunawag ka ng pulis upang maklaro ang kanilang otoridad. Ayon sa batas, ang mga arresting officer ay dapat naka-uniporme, maayos ang kumilos, at may paggalang sa mga karapatan at dignidad ng kanilang aarestuhin. Kung ang arresting officer ay lumalabag sa mga ito, huwag mag-cooperate sa kanila pero huwag ding gumamit ng dahas. Hayaang bitbitin ka nila, magsisigaw at humingi ng tulong, mag-eksena upang tumawag pansin ng mga kapitbahay at mga nagdaraan. Tandaan ang lahat ng paglabag sa iyong mga karapatan at sa unang pagkakataon na makaharap sa judge o piskal/public prosecutor, mag-report at ikwento ang mga naganap.

* Kung ikaw ay sinabihan ng mga police officer hindi ka hinuhuli pero iniimbita lang for “questioning”, sagutin na kailangan mo munang kumonsulta sa iyong abogado. Gawin ito at sabihan ang iyong abogado na kausapin ang mga officer at itakda ang oras, petsa, at lugar kung saan pwedeng maganap ang questioning. Kung hindi ka payagan na kumonsulta sa iyong abogado, huwag sumama sa mgaofficer. Kapag pinilit ka nila, ang magaganap ay isang pag-aresto na rin.

* Ang pangkalahatang probisyon ng batas ay pwede ka lang ma-aresto kung mayroong valid na warrant of arrest na galing sa isang competent court. Gayunman, may tatlong exception sa probisyong ito ng batas:

– Kung ikaw ay may ginawa, o ginagawa, o nagbabalak gumawa ng krimen, sa harap mismo ng arresting officer;

– Kung may krimen or pglabag sa batas naganap pa lang at ang arresting officer ay may dahilan, batay sa personal na kaalaman sa mga facts at circumstances ng nangyari, na may probable cause na ikaw ang maysala;

– Kung ikaw ay tumakas mula sa kulungan o habang inililipat mula sa kulungan.

ULITIN NATIN: MAGING MAHINAHON.

Mag-concentrate sa mga nangayayari. Huwag mangamba ng lubos sa mga kung ano ang susunod na mangyayari. Maaring ang iyong kinatatakutan ay kathang-isip lang. Huwag mag-alala kung malimutan mo ang lahat ng mga payong ito. Hindi lahat ay pwedeng maganap ng perpekto. Maipagtatanggol mo ang iyong mga karapatan kung ikaw ay kalmado at malinaw ang kaisipan.

Know Your Rights 3-6

IF YOU ARE BEING ARRESTED

Remember:
* Stay calm. Being arrested is not the end of the world. Some apprehension is unavoidable but you can reduce this by concentrating on each event as it happens, and not letting your imagination run wild about what will happen next.
* Ask a relative or friend or even a stranger (get the name and address) to witness your arrest. If you own a cell phone, send a text message to your family, friends, and lawyer informing them that you are being arrested. You may also call your family, friends, and lawyer so they may listen in on your arrest.
* Ask the person or persons arresting you for their names, their official positions, and the office or unit they belong to.
* Ask for a copy of their authority to arrest you and examine it carefully. Note particularly if you are correctly named in the warrant of arrest, and the offense for which you are being arrested.
* If there is any defect in the warrant, register your objection to being arrested but do not resist or use force.
* If you are lawfully arrested, you may be searched for dangerous weapons or anything, which may be used as proof that you committed the crime for which you are being arrested.
* Inquire from your arresting officer where you will be taken. Ask that you be accompanied by the relative, friend or stranger who witnessed your arrest. Assure the arresting officers that this is for their protection as well as yours.
* Ask to be allowed to telephone your lawyers; if denied, ask your relative, friend or other witness to your arrest, to do so. Inform your lawyer of your arrest, the identity of the arresting officers, the cause of your arrest, and where you will be taken.
* Do not, at any time, offer any physical resistance to the arrest. State that you object to your arrest and are not waiving any of your rights, but are going peacefully in order to avoid violence.
* If the persons making the arrest are in civilian clothes, or refuse to give their names or show any warrant of arrest, refuse to go with them. Ask them to let you call for a policeman to verify their authority. Do not agree to being blindfolded. The law requires arresting officers to be properly dressed, to behave properly, and to respect your rights and your dignity. If the arresting officers violate these requirements, do not cooperate, but do not use violence either. Make them carry you out, shout for help, create a scene so that your neighbors and other passersby may notice what is happening. Remember all violations of your rights and complain about them at the first opportunity after your arrest, when you are presented to a judge or fiscal/public prosecutor.
* If you are told that you are not being arrested but merely invited for questioning, reply that you will consult your lawyer first. Do so, then get your lawyer to talk to the officers and arrange a date, time, and place for your questioning. If they do not allow you to consult your lawyer, refuse to go along with them. If they insist, their acts become an arrest and the preceding advice applies.
* The general rule is that you can only be arrested upon proper warrant of arrest issued by a competent court. However, there are three exceptions to this rule:
– When you have committed, are actually committing, or attempting to commit a crime in the presence of the arresting officer;
– When an offense has just been committed and the arresting officer has probable cause to believe based on personal knowledge of facts and circumstances that you committed the offense;
– When you have escaped from prison or detention or while being transferred from one confinement to another.
REPEAT: REMAIN CALM. Concentrate on what is happening now. Do not imagine what will happen next. Many of your fears are self-created. Above all, do not worry if you forgot to do any of the things listed above. They are counsels of perfection, not always attainable. As long as you remain calm and collected, you will be able to protect your rights.

Well- meaning warning to the President from an ally

August 17, 2016August 17, 2016 Ellen

(Quote on immunity from suits starts at 17:40 mins)

In many of his speeches , President Rodrigo Duterte flaunts his immunity from suits as an armor amid mounting concerns about the extra-judicial killings in his campaign against illegal drugs.

In a speech before troops at Camp Gen. Macario B. Peralta, JR, Jamindan, Capiz last Aug. 5, he said, “Ang Presidente, hindi mo ma-demanda. ..mag-order ako ng patay, you cannot arrest me, may immunity ako.”

It’s not only those dealing with illegal drugs that he wants killed but all those he believes pose obstructions to his desire to improve the lives of the Filipino people.

While visiting the V. Luna AFP Medical Center, last Aug. 2, he expressed frustration over the refusal of some business owners to stop “Endo” – the distortion of contractualization where workers’ employment is terminated at the fifth month before the end of the six-month probationary period to avoid making the workers permanent employees entitled to labor benefits.

Pres. Duterte talking to the troops at Camp M. Peralta in Jamindan, Capiz.

Duterte said: “Ako mag-warning lang: Stop contractualization or patayin kita. You know why kaya ako magsalita ng ganun ang Presidente? While I am here, may immunity ako.”

During the Mindanao summit early this month, he said he is looking for a “killer” to head the the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, which he said is corruption-riddled. “I’d like to give you a warning: Do not F.. with me. I cannot pronounce the exact word, just the F and C. Don’t dare me. As President, I have the immunity from civil or criminal. If I lose my patience, I’ll call and shoot you,” he said.

Duterte’s immunity from suits is only during his incumbency as president. After June 30, 2022, he becomes fair game to those who want to haul him into court.

Duterte said he is not worried and directed people to the Revised Penal Code: “Ang sabi ng Revised Penal Code, pagdating ng 70, i-release ka na. All persons upon reaching the age.. mandatory ilabas. 71 na ako. Pagkatapos ko Presidente, 77. Saan mo ko ilagay? O ‘di wala naman,” he said to the amusement of the soldiers listening.

Lawyer Raymond Fortun corrected the President.

Atty. Raymond Fortun

In a Facebook post, Fortun said, “With all due respect to the President, he is wrong here.”

Fortun explained that, “ Age is merely a mitigating circumstance. (Art. 13, Sec. 2, RPC). It does not mean that he cannot be charged and, if found convicted, cannot serve his sentence in a jail.

“Being 70 years of age merely reduces the penalty to its minimum (or, if there are other mitigating circumstances, by 1 to 2 degrees lower),” the lawyer further said.

Fortun gave as an example former senator Juan Ponce Enrile who was charged and imprisoned for plunder at the age of 90. He was later allowed to post bail for humanitarian reason.

Philippine incumbent presidents are protected by the Constitution in order for them to perform their job unhampered by legal obstacles but they are not totally touchable if they commit a crime against humanity.

Last Aug. 2, Kabayan Rep. Harry Roque, a human rights lawyer before he entered politics, delivered a privileged speech saying that although Duterte is immune from suits during his six-year term as president he may be indicted for the continuing spate of extrajudicial killings related to the government’s campaign against illegal drugs by the International Criminal Court.

The rising number of those killed in the campaign against illegal (1,054 as of Aug. 16, 2016 since May 10, when Duterte was elected president according to ABS-CBN monitoring ) has raised concerns not only among concerned citizens in the country but also international groups and media.

Roque belongs to the super-majority in the House of Representatives led by Duterte ally Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez. He said, “while it would be imprudent for me to say with certainty that President Duterte has already committed a crime against humanity, it would be a disservice to this entire nation if I did not warn [the president] to be careful.”

Roque said Article 7, Section 1 of the Rome Statute– the treaty that established the ICC of which the Philippines is party to – a “crime against humanity” is a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population with knowledge of such attack.

Rep. Harry Roque delivering his speech on International Humanitarian Law Day.

“By definition, crimes against humanity may be committed even in times of peace, without the existence of an armed conflict,” he said.

Roque warned that the principle of state immunity granted to a sitting president “is not an effective shield against the ICC.”

Roque said, “The ICC has indicted leaders even during their term of power. It has done so in Kenya, Sudan, and others. Even without actual or direct participation, the President can be indicted for crimes under the principle of Command Responsibility so long as he knew that such crime was being committed, and he failed to take all necessary and reasonable measures within his power to stop such acts. The ICC does not need to wait for news about the massacre of an entire town or barangay before it investigates.

“If the administration does not temper the methods it has been using over the past few weeks, then it is only a matter of time before the international community turns its focus to the Philippines for justice,” he said.

That’s coming from an ally.

Do we take President Duterte seriously?

August 12, 2016August 12, 2016 Ellen

Duterte threatens to declare martial law before troops in Camp Evangelista, Cagayan de Oro.

I take him seriously because the president of the Republic of the Philippines is so powerful that with a stroke of a pen, he can save a life or send the nation to war.

Last Tuesday, President Duterte threatened to declare martial law.

“ Please, ‘wag mo akong… hindi ako gago. If this continues, pigilan mo ako eh ‘di sige. ‘Pag nagwala na...or would you rather that I will declare martial law?, he said before the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division in Camp Evangelista in Cagayan de Oro.

Duterte was lashing out on Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno who stood up to him by reminding him of the separation of powers and other provisions in the Constitution which he could have violated when he read a list of alleged illegal drugs protector including seven judges. Others in more than 150 names in the list were congressmen, military officials, police officers, mayors, and vice mayors.

He said the list ““has undergone a process” which many thought meant the involvement of those named had been validated.
Within 24 hours, errors in the list were pointed out.

Sereno said one of the judges named had long been dead and the other was dismissed from the judiciary nine years ago. Three others are presiding in courts not handling drug cases.

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno

This was the statement of Sereno that made Duterte ballistic: “To safeguard the role of the judges as the protector of constitutional rights, I would caution them very strongly against ‘surrendering’ or making themselves physically accountable to any police officer in the absence of any duly-issued warrant of arrest that is pending.”

Duterte, a former prosecutor bristled at Sereno’s advice to observe due process: “Manghingi ka ng warrant? Madam Chief Justice, you must be joking. You must be joking. Dalawa tayo abogado. Kayong lahat sa Supreme Court…do you know how long it would take to secure a warrant of arrest?

“One single case in the Republic of the Philippines, the warrant to issue is a minimum of two months, three months. Pagdating sa Korte, Madam Justice, it will take forever. ‘Pag natalo, aakayat yan sa Court of Appeals. It would sit there for about two years.”
The President issued a counter warning to the Chief Justice:

“So, ikaw ang winarningan ko, hindi ako.”Do not create a crisis because I will order everybody in the executive department not to honor you.”

The threat of declaring martial law sent alarm bells ringing especially to human rights advocates and those who had experienced martial law under the late Ferdinand Marcos.

Immediately, Malacanang went into damage control. Press Secretary Martin Andanar said in a statement said, “The President merely asked a rhetorical question and said it under the context that his anti-drug campaign cannot wait for the slow wheels of justice – [Philippines] style. We have an Action Man for a President who believes justice delayed is justice denied. He is the type, who at the onset of his presidency, simply wants to hit the ground running and rid society of drugs, crime, and corruption with urgency.”

It did not help, however, that Presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo underscored that “The Constitution says the President can declare martial law not only in cases of invasion or rebellion, but when public safety requires it. Right now, the safety of the public is in imminent danger.”

He then backtracked with,“I don’t think the President will do that.”

Senate Minority Leader Ralph G. Recto advised the public to “learn to auto-delete the colorful parts of Digong’s statements.
For those who are outraged, Recto said, “the best coping mechanism is not to let his curses get in the way of studying the causes he is fighting for.”

Recto is being kind. Many can only turn to prayers like artist-activist Mae Paner who articulated the distress of many in her Facebook post:

Artist-activist Mae Paner

“Napapa-isip Ako

“Lord, anong klaseng anghel ang ibinigay mo sa amin? Parang halimaw ang iniregalomo sa amin. Mali ba ako?

“Yung pagmumura kayang sikmurain. Pero yung pumapatay para sa katahimikan namin? Thank you? Yung maglilibing kay Marcos sa Libingan ng mga Bayani? Whew! Yung magde-declare ng unilateral ceasefire tapos babawiin? Game show? Yung sasabihing baliw ang sarili niyang anak on national tv? Wow! Yung bumabastos sa bangkay at kababaihan? Arayko! Yung nagbabanta sa Supreme Court justice? Pak! Yung nagbabanta ulit ng martial law? Wagas! Yung ang extra judicial killings ginawang bisyo? Nakakaloka!

“Bangungot ba ito? Pagsubok? O nang-iinis ka Lord? Pikon talo?

“Actually…

“Gusto kong manahimik dahil may takot pa din ako. Gusto kong umayon dahil baka ma-bully ako ng mga bilib sa kanya. Gusto ko siyang bigyan ng pagkakataon dahil bagong upo lang siya. Gusto kong pumalakpak dahil itataas daw niya sahod ng kapatid kong sundalo. Gusto kong magduda pero binigyan niya ng puwesto ang ilang progresibo. Gusto kong isiping di hamak naman siyang mas magaling kesa kay Aquino.

“Sa wakas may FOI at tuloy na ang RH. May pag-asa ang divorce.

“Gusto ko pang ngumiti pero bakit ang sakit ng panga ko? Gusto ko pang umasa na tunay ang ginagawa niyang pagbabago. O sadyang tanga lang ba ako?

“Masasanay rin ako sa style niya? Hanggang mamanhid?

“Sino ba ang nilalaro nino Lord? Sirit na.

“Isa’t kalahating buwan pa lang ang nabawas sa anim na taon. Lamang kalsada pa rin ba ako hanggang mag edad 59?

“Lord, bakit ang sakit mong magmahal!?!