Press Release
March 1, 2007

VILLAR RENEWS CALL FOR A STOP IN EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS OF JOURNALISTS, ACTIVISTS AND LAWYERS
As well as justice for their families and relatives

Senate President Manny Villar, who led the inquiries on extrajudicial killings of journalists and lawyers, when he was still the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Illegal Drugs, renews his call for a stop in extrajudicial killings in the country.

We did a series of public hearings and inquiries on the spate of killings of media personnel and law practitioners as early as 2005 and these extended up to 2006. Its just unfortunate that these extrajudicial killings continue up to now, cites Villar, President of the Nacionalista Party.

In May 2005, Villar filed Senate Resolution 267 directing his committee to conduct an investigation into the findings of Netherlands-based International Association of Peoples Lawyers (IAPL) which labeled the Philippines as the most dangerous place for lawyers and judges.

In the same month, Villar also filed Senate Resolution 252 to conduct an inquiry into media killings, in particular into the findings of New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) that identified the Philippines as the most murderous country for journalists. It aims to recommend policy measures to protect press freedom and to carry out the resolute implementation of justice in the country.

A society where there is no rule of law and no one skilled in applying the law is a chaotic society where the weakest among us have no chance and the strongest among us have no restraint. The rule of law is the backbone of a democratic, peaceful and orderly society and an efficient and trustworthy judiciary is the true guardian of our freedom and the last line of defense against tyranny, cites Villar on his Senate Resolution.

Villar adds, Media practitioners and legal professionals are the very protectors of truth, justice and freedom. Thus, when they are the ones being preyed upon it is indeed a very serious and scary situation.

In October last year, upon the completion of the public hearings on extrajudicial killings, Villar filed Committee Report 150 which was signed by the members of the Senate Committees that were involved in the said investigation.

According to Villar, Despite the local and international organizations appeal to the government to seriously look into the spate of killings of journalists, judges and now political activists, the countrys reputation has not improved because of the perceived inaction about the issue. In the Senate, we have diligently looked into it and Committee Report 150 is the result of the series of hearings and inquiries we have conducted.

News Latest News Feed