In the News: January 2012
The following are articles from media websites mentioning the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) or its member-lawyers on January 2012.
No relief for Palparan, Hilario by Dino Balabo, The Philippine Star
Posted on January 2, 2012
Speaking to reporters after the first hearing on the case, Lawyer Edre Olalia said Judge Teodora Gonzales of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 14 here categorically said that the two cannot seek relief from the court.
”They are still at large and are still not under the jurisdiction of the court,” Olalia said.
Mothers of kidnap victims want 2 soldiers in proper costudy by Dennis Carcamo, The Philippine Star
Posted on January 2, 2012
Families of Desaparecidos for Justice (Desaparecidos), and rights groups Karapatan and End Impunity Alliance have joined the two mothers and their pool of lawyers from the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers as they attended the hearing at the Malolos Court.
A picket was also staged outside the court premises to push for the immediate arrest of Palparan.
Malolos court ignores Palparan’s plea by Joel San Juan, Business Mirror
Posted on January 2, 2012
Lawyer Edre Olalia, counsel of the mothers of the victims, said Judge Teodora Gonzales noted that Palparan and his co-accused, MSgt. Rizal Hilario, are not entitled to seek relief from the court considering that they have not been arraigned.
“They are still at large and are still not under the jurisdiction of the court,” Olalia said.
Palparan ordered by court to surrender by Ronalyn Olea, Bulatlat.com
Posted on January 3, 2011
Members of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) who are serving as private prosecutors in the case welcomed the judge’s ruling. “He [Palparan] cannot have his cake and eat it too while trifling with the judicial and legal process,” the NUPL said in a text message.
YEARENDER: 2011, a precarious life for the urban poor by Janess Ann Ellao, Bulatlat.com
Posted on January 3, 2012
In a consultation between urban poor groups and the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers this year, they found out that there is a big disparity between what is stipulated in the law and what is being implemented on the ground.
There were also vague provisions that could be used against the poor such as terms “danger areas.” Ephraim Cortez of the National Union of People’s Lawyers said the law is so vague that it could be twisted to reflect the position of the government, such as after the fire that razed the community in Kadiwa, Navotas.
Judge says no court relief for Palparan unless he surrenders by Dino Balabo, Jaime Laude, Ric Sapnu, The Philippine Star
Posted on January 3, 2011
Quoting Judge Teodora Gonzales of the Bulacan Regional Trial Court Branch 14, lawyer Edre Olalia said Palparan and Hilario have not yet been placed under the jurisdiction of the court.
Meanwhile, lawyers of two missing University of the Philippines students have questioned the transfer of Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado and S/Sgt. Edgardo Osorio from the Bulacan Provincial Jail to Fort Bonifacio two days before Christmas.
Court action on Palparan motion put off sans surrender by Benjamin B. Pulta and Mario J. Mallari, The Daily Tribune
Posted on January 3, 2011
Edre Olalia, counsel of the mothers of the victims, said Malolos City RTC Branch 14 Presiding Judge Teodora Gonzales noted that Palparan and his co-accused M/Sgt. Rizal Hilario are not entitled to seek relief from the court considering that they have not been arraigned.
‘Palparan must be temporarily detained at AFP’ by Dennis Carcamo, The Philippine Star
Posted on January 3, 2012
“There is no cogent legal or credible factual basis for the suggestion that Palparan should be brought to AFP when he is arrested or surrenders. This will ignite and inflame so much valid criticism, condemnation and protest both here and abroad,” lawyer Edre Olalia said.
Being a former military, Olalia said Palparan would be very “at home” if he would be detained at the AFP.
‘Palparan, sumuko ka na’ by Macky Macaspac, Pinoy Weekly Online
Posted on January 4, 2012
We welcome and agree the judge’s firm and clear ruling that fugitive Gen. Palparan cannot seek relief, if at all, unless he surrenders or is arrested. He cannot have his cake and eat it too while trifling with the judicial and legal process,” pahayag ng National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL).
Palparan bounty raised to P1 million by Virgil Lopez, SunStar
Posted on January 5, 2012
“In fact, we originally thought the original bounty may not have been commensurate as an incentive given the seriousness of the offense. The manhunt should leave no stone unturned to hale him before the bar of justice, undeserving of any special treatment,” Edre Olalia, secretary-general of the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) told Sun.Star.
Farmers join manhunt for Palparan by Tonette Orejas, The Philippine Daily Inquirer
Posted on January 7, 2012
In a statement, the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) said that while the increase of the bounty from P500,000 to P1 million would encourage the public to join in the hunt for Palparan, the government should further intensify its efforts to capture the fugitive retired general.
Palace asks for public help to locate Palparan by Virgil Lopez, SunStar
Posted on January 9, 2012
For its part, the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) challenged the government to step up even more the manhunt and bring Palparan before the bar of justice.
“He cannot possibly hide and run ‘til kingdom come,” NUPL secretary-general Edre Olalia, one of the case’s private prosecutors, said.
Pasay court orders arrest of Abalos, lawyer for contempt by Perseus Echeminada, The Philippine Star
Posted on January 10, 2011
The health workers, through their counsel Edre Olalia of the National Union of People’s Lawyers, said there is still a possibility that Arroyo may flee the country. “If defendant already tried to flee by making it appear that she was seriously ill, she can still do it, and the fact that she is presently under detention will definitely not stop her from doing so,” the petitioners said.
Posted on January 10, 2012
The posters encouraged those with information on Palparan’s whereabouts to report to the National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine National Police and human rights groups.
The human rights group Panay Alliance-Karapatan along with the National Union of People’s Lawyers and other organizations also initiated the display of the posters in police stations in Iloilo City.
Palparan coaccused cites prewar MLQ order by TJ Brugonio, The Philippine Daily Inquirer
Posted on January 11, 2012
Lawyer Edre Olalia, a member of the National Union of People’s Lawyers that serves as private prosecutors for the victims’ families, said the Quezon EO had been superseded by the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure which provide that an arrested person must be brought to the nearest police station and confined in a civilian facility.
Court asked: Reverse ruling on P15-M GMA properties by Cory Martinez, Journal Online
Posted on January 11, 2012
“If defendant already tried to flee by making it appear that she was seriously ill, she can still do it, and the fact that she is presently under detention will definitely not stop her from doing so,” [the NUPL] said.
But the petitioners pointed out that their fears have factual basis, citing the former president’s own attempt to fly out of the Philippines.
Palparan co-accused invokes decades-old EO by TJ Burgonio, The Philippine Daily Inquirer
Posted on January 10, 2012
Lawyer Edre Olalia, a member of the National Union of People’s Lawyers that serves as private prosecutors for the victims’ families, said the Quezon EO had been superseded by the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure which provide that an arrested person must be brought to the nearest police station and confined in a civilian facility.
GMA to evade cases – Lawyers by Chito Chavez, Tempo
Posted on January 11, 2012
The health workers members of the so-called “Morong 43″ asked Judge Maria Luisa Q. Padilla of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court to reverse a previous ruling denying their motion for a writ of preliminary attachment.
Through their counsel Edre Olalia of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers the health workers said their belief that the former president may flee is not just a suspicion.