The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno, is taking an active stance in combating extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances because these are seen as “an affront to the judicial system.”  Thus its spearheading of the coming National Consultative Summit on Extrajudicial Killings and Enforced Disappearances – Searching for Solutions on July 16 to 17 at the Manila Hotel.

“You will notice that the Chief Justice has been very visible these days because this is something that is very close to his heart and he views that the extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances as an affront to the judicial system,” Atty. Jose Midas P. Marquez, Assistant Court Administrator, Chief Justice’s Chief of Staff, and Public Information Office Chief, told reporters during today’s press briefing on the Summit. “That’s why he is really taking an active role, being visible and taking lead in trying to search for solutions to end this problem.”

“It is the public’s vigilance that will ensure that measures will be undertaken so that all these extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances will come to an end. All those who are guilty will be prosecuted and penalized accordingly,” Atty. Marquez said in urging the public to support the Summit.

“The first and foremost of human rights is the right to life. It has long been accorded universal status for the existence of all other rights is premised on the preservation of life. The extrajudicial taking of life is the ultimate violation of human rights. It cannot be allowed anywhere, and it has to be resisted everywhere and extrajudicial killings also constitute brazen assaults on the rule of law. It is the constitutional duty of our judiciary to protect the rule of law and we will link with all efforts to prevent its erosion,” said Chief Justice Puno in a previous statement.

The two-day summit will be participated in by representatives from all three branches of the government as well as representatives from civil society, who will propose solutions to put an end to the senseless killings.
          
After the summit, the summit sponsors will come up with a report. All those suggestions for the executive department, we will send to the executive department. All those with regard to the legislative department we will send to the legislative department. All those which concern the Judiciary, we will right away act on it, Atty. Marquez said.

Confirmed speakers include retired SC Justice Jose A.R. Melo, Ombudsman Merceditas N. Gutierrez, Commission on Human Rights Chair Purificacion V. Quisumbing, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Calderon, Rep. Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr., and Department of Justice Secretary Raul M. Gonzalez. Former Senate President Jovito R. Salonga leads the representatives from the non-governmental organizations. Prof. Luis Teodoro of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility is representing the media, while Fr. Joaquin Bernas, S.J. is representing the Academe.

The Summit is aimed at arriving at wholistic solutions and providing inputs to the SC in its objective of enhancing existing rules, or promulgating new ones, in the protection and enforcement of constitutional rights, including the protection of the witnesses. Likewise, it aims to examine the concept of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances pursuant to the standards provided for by local and international laws, including United Nations instruments.

The Summit also aims to revisit the rules of evidence and to explore more remedies for the aggrieved parties aside from the writ of habeas corpus.