CEBU, Philippines - In light of continuing and ever increasing human rights violations and impunity under the currrent administration, the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers Cebu Chapter (NUPL-Cebu) in coordination with the Community Empowerment Resource Network (CERNET), held the first ever Visayas-wide People’s Lawyers Conference at the Rajah Park Hotel in Cebu City yesterday.
At least 50 lawyers, law students and paralegals from Panay, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Cebu, Bohol and Eastern Visayas (Samar and Leyte) gathered to share and discuss the human rights situation under the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.
Also invited to the conference were Bayan Muna Partylist Representative Neri Colmenares who discussed about the International Criminal Court and its relevance to the Philippine experience.
Makabayan Party Chairman and former Congressman Satur Ocampo, also talked about various issues of national importance including the status of the peace process between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.
Atty. Rex Fernandez also discussed about the administrative, civil and criminal remedies to address the human rights situation in the country.
The conference will resume today for a simultaneous workshop involving specific cases occurring in different provinces in the entire Visayas.
The workshop is expected to come up with a definite action plan for every region including specific timelines for the filing of cases against human rights violators.
A coordinating committee is expected to be formed to coordinate with different regions for the concrete implementation of action plans and programs. (FREEMAN)