Thursday, May 10, 2007 Speak out: Chief Justice Puno and human rights By Free Legal Assistance Group 7
(THE following is the resolution of the Free Legal Assistance Group 7 commending Chief Justice Reynato Puno on his uncompromising defense of human rights.)
Whereas, human rights under the Arroyo administration have been under siege with the unsolved killings of hundreds of political dissenters, social activists and journalists, and the passage of the Human Security Act of 2007 as a reaction to the US-led war on “terror” with its overbroad definition of “terrorism” that constricts further the basic rights of our citizens; Whereas, the assault on human rights in the guise of protecting national security is unjustified and should be vigorously opposed by all well-meaning sectors of our society;
Whereas, perpetrators of human rights violations have been emboldened by utter silence of opportunistic politicians, apathetic professionals and the indifference of the citizenry;
Whereas, speaking at the commencement exercises of the University of the East last week, Chief Justice Reynato Puno of the Supreme Court denounced the “mindless” crackdown on terrorists at the expense of human rights, and warned a state “hobbled by credibility problems and corruption” would not be able to protect its peoples’ civil liberties;
Whereas, the chief justice’s courageous and open advocacy of human rights in a time of great peril is a fresh wind after a long suffocating night of repressive acts and terrorism as well as apathy of those who have placed their personal comfort above the sanctity of human life and the primacy of civil liberties;
Now therefore, on mass motion of all the officers and members of the Free Legal Assistance Group 7, be it resolved as it is hereby resolved to express their sincere and profound appreciation to Chief Justice Reynato Puno for his uncompromising stand against human rights violations and his courageous and open advocacy for the protection of human rights in this country.
Resolved further to send copies of this resolution to Chief Justice Reynato Puno, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and Chairman Purificacion Quisumbing of the Human Rights Commission.
Adopted in Cebu City, Philippines on April 24, 2007.
