ONLY the comatose have not heard the killing of human rights lawyer Benjamin (Ben) Ramos Jr. The news of his killing has been plastered across multimedia platforms.
I first knew Ben as a fellow advocate of organic production and a fellow campaigner against genetically-modified organisms. And then, later on, I met him in court-annexed mediation, as counsel for poor farmers on cases of ejectment or unlawful detainer.
Of course, as a mediator, I have to be a neutral party between a landowner and the farmers even if parties get emotional. Although we can easily find common grounds.
For the environment, human rights. I find it hard that we won’t be facing one another as fellow officers of the court.
If not, we can maintain a healthy respect for one another as fellow strong-willed advocates for our own causes.
And now he was gunned down. I find that incomprehensible.
In a Facebook thread, I read from Richard Avisado this: “Because there is a very thin line that decides between a vocal opposition or dissenter and extreme left if you are branded a latter then you are ripe for execution, lawyer or not.”
Remember, he was tagged by the military as a member of the underground movement. “Patay kang bata ka. Sayang ang pinag aralan mo maging abogado but you opted to be with the left, you deserve to die. Eat a waste. (You are dead child. You wasted your degree in law but opted to be with the left, you deserve to die).”
“Basta if you’re a peace-loving citizen, never attempt to join rallies or to shout anti-government slogans or run the risk of being branded a communist and a terrorist at that. Simple ang secret, just keep quiet and enjoy your perks being a peace-loving citizen,” Avisado added.
I don’t know how many pro-Duterte followers share the same views. Last I checked, we are a democracy where the free exchange in the marketplace of ideas are well respected.
As another Negrense lawyer Alett Nuñez put it during the drafting of the provincial Genetically Modified Organism ban, get 100 lawyers, expect to get 100 different opinions.
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBM) condemns the murder of Ben. IBP President Abdiel Fajardo says lawyers “are now enveloped in fear as they seek to provide access to justice to their clients.”
Or as former Supreme Court and human rights lawyer Ted Te wrote in Facebook, “When they start killing lawyers simply because of who they defend, that’s when you know they’ve run out of arguments and when you know the rule of law has lost.”
“Inter armas silent leges, in the clash of arms, the laws are silent. We should all work, as Ka Pepe once said, ‘to reverse the equation: inter leges, silent armas, in the clash of laws, the arms are silent.’”
(bqsanc@yahoomail.com)