First batch of judges to get training on unsolved killings

The first batch of judges tasked to hear the cases of slain activists and journalists will take part in a two-day seminar-workshop to be conducted by the Supreme Court (SC) starting today at the Manila Pavilion Hotel.

In the Seminar-Workshop for Judges on Extrajudicial Killings and Enforced Disappearances, the judges will discuss the guidelines issued by the SC to help them determine whether a crime is a "political killing."

The seminar-workshop will also consider the following: political affiliation of the victim, method of attack, and reports that state agents are involved in the crime.

Chief Justice Reynato Puno will address the participants during the closing ceremonies tomorrow.

The lecturers, experts in the field of International Law, Human Rights Law, and Humanitarian Law, include Justice Adolfo Azcuna, Commission on Human Rights chairman Purificacion Quisumbing, University of the Philippines Office of Legal Aid director Theodore Te, and Philippine Judicial Academy professors Sedfrey Candelaria and Herminio Roque.

In a statement, the SC said the first batch of judges attending the seminar-workshop will come from the National Capital Judicial Region and the First and Second Judicial Regions.

The seminar-workshop will be conducted by the Philippine Judicial Academy, the SC’s education arm, in partnership with the Commission on Human Rights.

It aims to address the concerns of judges of special courts set up to hear cases of extrajudicial killings over the procedures for identifying and deciding cases.

Last March, the SC designated 99 regional trial courts nationwide to handle cases of extrajudicial killings.

In designating the special courts, the SC also issued guidelines to help them determine whether a crime is a "political killing" or not.

A judgment on a case shall be rendered within 30 days upon its submission for decision unless a shorter period is provided by the law or otherwise directed by the SC.

The special courts will be required to submit a report on the status of the concerned cases, which shall be attached to their monthly report of cases.

Failure to submit the report shall be a ground for withholding the salaries and allowances of the judges, clerks of court, and branch clerks of court concerned without prejudice to whatever administrative sanction may be imposed on them.

Puno announced the creation of the special courts even before Malacañang made public the findings of the Independent Commission to Address Media and Activist Killings, tagging military personnel in certain cases.