Delegation of foreign lawyers claims intimidation, harassment

MANILA, Philippines — The delegation of foreign lawyers that looked into the killings of Philippine lawyers decried alleged intimidation and harassment during their stay in the country.

In a statement released late Tuesday night, the international delegation of lawyers said that during their press conference at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines office a man who identified himself as a “military personnel” approached an IBP and said “these foreigners are now under surveillance.”

The statement was also released through the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers.

They also said the man took their photos and listened in on their conversation.

They also claimed that their group was tailed by “two men in bullcaps riding in tandem on a motorcycle with no plate number.” Men in civilian clothes and caps also camped out in their hotel.

“We were made to understand that our delegation was probably the first foreign group to enter the country and conduct a firsthand open inquiry on the reported rights violations under the present Philippine government,” the delegation said.

 “Under the contemporaneous circumstances and in the context of the usual reaction of the Duterte government towards opinions inconsistent with its official line, these vexatious acts against our delegation appear to have the fingerprints of intimidation and reprisal by State agents,” they added.

DOJ: Show credible evidence to back claims

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra earlier challenged the groups’ "sweeping" statement that killings of Philippine lawyers are state-sponsored. He said: “With all due respect, I find their conclusion that lawyers’ deaths are state-sanctioned preposterous, unless they can back it up with some credible evidence. Of all people, they as lawyers, should be the first to show proof of facts before making reckless public statements.”

The panel on Monday released the findings of their review of the 13 cases, conducted on March 14 to 18, on Monday. They said that there has been a “sharp increase” of “severe” rights violations against Philippine rights lawyers and legal professionals.

The delegation also raised that public pronouncements of President Rodrigo Duterte against lawyers are part of the “pattern...suggesting a connection between the killings and the actions of the PNP [Philippine National Police] and AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines].”

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The delegation said that their respective embassies have already been put on notice of the incidents. The STAR reported that the panel is composed of representatives from Belgium, Italy, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands and the US.

They however said that they will return to the country despite the incident.