18th Congress
Senate Resolution No. 691
Date: 24/03/2021
Resolution
WHEREAS, the Department of Justice has revealed that since 2016 fifty-four (54) members of the legal profession have been killed and that only five (5) cases have reached the courts;WHEREAS, the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) has reported that one hundred (100) lawyers have been killed in the last twenty (20) years;
WHEREAS, Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution provides that “[t]he prime duty of the Government is to serve and protect the people”;
WHEREAS, the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers provides in paragraphs 16 and 18 thereof, respectively, that (1) “[g]overnments shall ensure that lawyers (a) are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference; (b) are able to travel and to consult with their clients freely both within their own country and abroad; and (c) shall not suffer, or be threatened with, prosecution or administrative, economic or other sanctions for any action taken in accordance with recognized professional duties, standards and ethics” and (2) “Lawyers shall not be identified with their clients or their clients’ causes as a result of discharging their functions”;
WHEREAS, our lawyers play a crucial role in the administration of justice in the country, especially in representing the most marginalized members of the community;
WHEREAS, the brazen acts of violence against lawyers send a chilling message to the members of the bench and the bar who, in the performance of their responsibilities to the society as administrators of justice, should be able to exercise their sworn duties and represent their clients or dispense justice without threats, persecution and fear for their safety and their lives;
WHEREAS, the continuing flagrant and horrific attacks on the lawyers, prosecutors, and judges and the failure to condemn, investigate, and prosecute these acts of violence and bring the perpetrators to justice is an act of injustice in itself and erode the public’s trust and confidence in our justice system: Now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, to strongly condemn the killings of and acts of violence against judges, prosecutors, and lawyers;
RESOLVED, further, to urge the President to undertake the necessary steps in ensuring the safety of the members of the legal profession by laying out definitive solutions and actions to address such rampant violence and killings, including the prompt, impartial and efficient investigation and prosecution of the cases.
Adopted,
FRANKLIN M. DRILON
SONNY ANGARA and 6 ors
CONDEMNING THE KILLING OF AND ACTS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST JUDGES, PROSECUTORS AND LAWYERS
Filed on March 24, 2021 by Drilon, Franklin M., Angara, Sonny, Cayetano, Pia S., De Lima, Leila M., Gordon, Richard J., Pangilinan, Francis “Kiko” N., Pimentel, Aquilino “Koko” III, Tolentino, Francis “Tol” N., Zubiri, Juan Miguel “Migz” F., Poe, Grace, Hontiveros, Risa, Revilla Jr., Ramon Bong, Marcos, Imee R., Lacson, Panfilo “Ping” M., Sotto III, Vicente C., Binay, Maria Lourdes Nancy S., Dela Rosa, Ronald “Bato”, Gatchalian, Win, Go, Christopher Lawrence T., Lapid, Manuel “Lito” M., Pacquiao, Emmanuel “Manny” D., Recto, Ralph G., Villanueva, Joel, Villar, Cynthia A.
Legislative History
Entitled:
RESOLUTION STRONGLY CONDEMNING THE KILLING OF AND ACTS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST JUDGES, PROSECUTORS AND LAWYERS AND URGING THE PRESIDENT TO UNDERTAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS IN ENSURING THE SAFETY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION
[ SECOND REGULAR SESSION, 18TH CONGRESS ]
[ 2021 ]
3/24/2021 Introduced by Senators FRANKLIN M. DRILON, SONNY ANGARA, PIA S. CAYETANO, LEILA M. DE LIMA, RICHARD J. GORDON, FRANCIS “KIKO” N. PANGILINAN, AQUILINO “KOKO” III PIMENTEL and FRANCIS “TOL” N. TOLENTINO;
3/24/2021 Sponsorship speech delivered by Senator FRANKLIN M. DRILON;
3/24/2021 Co-sponsorship speech of Senator RICHARD J. GORDON;
3/24/2021 Manifestation of Senator VICENTE C. SOTTO III that he be made a co-sponsor;
3/24/2021 Manifestation of Senators JUAN MIGUEL “MIGZ” F. ZUBIRI, GRACE POE, RISA HONTIVEROS and RAMON BONG REVILLA JR. that they be made co-authors;
3/24/2021 All members of the Senate were made co-authors and co-sponsors;
3/24/2021 Manifestation of Senators RISA HONTIVEROS, IMEE R. MARCOS and FRANCIS “KIKO” N. PANGILINAN;
3/24/2021 Interpellation of Senator PIA S. CAYETANO;
3/24/2021 Remarks of Senators PANFILO “PING” M. LACSON and RICHARD J. GORDON;
3/24/2021 Adopted;
3/24/2021 Speeches and manifestations on the Resolution were referred to the Committee on Justice and Human Rights;
3/24/2021 RESOLUTION NO. 99
(Pursuant to paragraph g, Sec. 7, Rule V of the Rules of the Senate, SRN-691 adopted as Resolution No. 99, with pertinent documents transmitted to the Archives for safekeeping and preservation on June 10, 2021)
