Finally, describing the case as of “transcendental importance,” the Supreme Court affirmed its Jan. 10, 2023 decision declaring as unconstitutional and void a tripartite agreement for Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU), signed in 2005 by the Philippine government with the governments of China and Vietnam.
Easter spells hope in the midst of darkness.
“We call on the Supreme Court to not let this pass and to take immediate, concrete and firm action to protect justice actors and rule of law. The Court must hold accountable those who threaten and malign our judges and lawyers.”
The SC also granted a temporary protection order and “prohibited the respondents from going within a radius of one kilometer of the petitioners and their immediate family.”
“It is my fervent prayer and wish that the highest court of this land will give due cognizance of my inviolable right as a Filipino and hold to account all those who have caused me untold trauma up to this day.”
“An urgent and decisive action from the Supreme Court is a matter of life and death for activists and human rights defenders especially now when we are being increasingly targeted in the government’s counterinsurgency and counterterror campaign for our work and causes.”
This translates to an average of seven lawyers killed every year.
“At this crucial juncture when the other institutions have defaulted on us, we fervently welcome these bold and unequivocal declarations, initial steps and further plans from our very own refuge.”
Amid the national outrage and international concern raised over the March 7 “Bloody Sunday” killing of nine activists in the Southern Tagalog region, urgent calls are being addressed to the Supreme Court to do what it can, while it can, to protect the people’s constitutional rights.
“How can [the judiciary] distance themselves [from the police action] if they themselves signed the documents used to make the operations seem legitimate?” – Defend Southern Tagalog
Bulatlat looks back at the decisions of the high court which affect the public the most, and the Filipino people’s fundamental rights and welfare.