SC junks Aetas’ plea vs anti-terror law

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday denied a petition-in-intervention filed by two Aeta farmers seeking to join other petitions to declare the anti-terror law as unconstitutional.

During the second day of the oral arguments on the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta said the petition by Japer Gurung and Junior Ramos, who claimed soldiers tortured them for six days, “has been unanimously denied by us this morning.”

Peralta made the disclosure after Solicitor General Jose Calida submitted a video clip and affidavits of the two Aeta farmers reportedly stating that they are withdrawing their petition.

Calida said that in their affidavit, the two Aetas claimed they were only forced to sign the petition out of consideration for a female lawyer who travelled from Manila to the Olongapo City Jail, where they are being held on charges of violating the anti-terror law or Republic Act 11479.

Gurung and Ramos have also reportedly changed lawyers – they are no longer represented by the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers-Central Luzon (NUPL-CL), but by the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).

Calida added that the Aetas reportedly said they were given P1,000 to be divided between them. The Aetas reportedly also appealed that their parents be left alone.

NUPL chairman Neri Colmenares, one of the lawyers representing 37 petitioners against the anti-terror law, said they were not aware of this development but noted that it would have been strange for lawyers to force detainees in a police camp.

In a statement released at 5 p.m. yesterday, the NUPL denied forcing the Aetas to sign the petition.

“In fact, they could not read or write so they just affixed their thumb marks, after the Anti-Terrorism Act, the pending petitions before the Supreme Court and the final draft petition-in-intervention were discussed to them patiently. Junior readily affixed his thumb mark while Japer affixed his after he was able to talk to some of his elder relatives by phone,” said NUPL.

A notary public met with the two Aetas the day after and asked them if the petition-in-intervention was explained to them, before she notarized the document, according to the NUPL.

The lawyers’ group also said that it received information that supposed representatives of the NCIP and PAO made frequent visits to persuade the Aetas to sever their relationship with the NUPL.

The third round of oral arguments will be on Feb. 16, Peralta said.