“Upon the passage of the 1987 Constitution, human rights and civil liberties have been raised to the level of an express constitutional protection to individual freedoms, especially against arbitrary arrests and charges, and it should be within this framework that the Supreme Court must resolve the Morong 43 petition.”

Ridon insisted that the filing of the Information against the Morong 43 had been erroneous, in light of the inadmissibility of evidence which constituted the filing of charges against the health workers – the illegal recovery of supposed explosives and firearms on the basis of a defective search and arrest warrant.

“The CA decision is legally untenable as the appellate court merely reiterated old habeas corpus doctrines which were decided in the darkest days of martial rule and clearly favored the atmosphere of military terror and repression at the time. The Morong 43 case may be the test case for human rights and civil liberties under the 1987 Constitution”
This was the statement of Terry Ridon, National Chairperson of the League of Filipino Students and senior student at the UP College of Law, upon receiving news that the CA ruled in favor of the arrests by the military.

Ridon intimated that similar to the Ilagan v. Enrile case, the filing of the Information against the Morong 43 was in the nature of an ‘arbitrary filing of precipitate, vindictive and oppressive charges in gross violation of their right and rudimentary requirements of due process and fair play’ as the health workers were prevented from challenging the finding of probable cause and the inadmissibility of the evidence gathered against them.

“It is about time to reverse the doctrine laid down by the leading case of Ilagan v. Enrile, where the mere filing of Information prevented the release of political detainees despite the patent illegality of a person’s arrest and detention.”

He said that the present SC should refer to the dissenting opinion of former Chief Justice Claudio Teehankee in responding to the challenge of reversing the Marcosian Supreme Court doctrines, who stated thus, “The judiciary [assisted by the bar] stands between the citizen and the State as a bulwark against executive excesses and misuse or abuse of power by the executive.”

“Our good justices must respond to this historic challenge.” Ridon said finally.

“It is no secret that Gen. Bangit is Mrs. Arroyo’s most favored and loyal general, and we are certain that he would serve Mrs. Arroyo’s interests more than ensuring that the military shall not interfere in the conduct of the 2010 elections.” This was the statement of Terry Ridon, National Chairperson of the League of Filipino Students, upon receiving news that Gen. Victor Ibrado’s term was not extended.

Ridon likened the loyalty of Gen. Bangit to the blind loyalty of Gen. Fabian Ver to President Marcos, in which the late general was jointly responsible with Marcos for the thousands of human rights violations under the regime, notwithstanding the infamous query by Ver during EDSA I whether to fire upon the millions of Filipinos participated in the five-day revolution.

“The appointment of Gen. Bangit is suspect in the face of unrelenting reports on the political plans of Mrs. Arroyo to regain political power thru Charter Change by installing herself as Prime Minister despite the election of a new President in May. She needs her most loyal general to trump by military force all opposition to such plans.”

Ridon intimated that the two requisites for Marcos’ martial law were absolute control of the armed forces and the subjugation of a pliant Supreme Court to legitimize continuing political power.

“The appointment of Gen. Bangit fulfills the first requisite, and the anticipated midnight appointment of a new Chief Justice would fulfill the other. The prospects are grave, albeit dangerous.”

However, he was confident that Gen. Bangit might soon share the same fate as the disgraced late Gen. Ver, as the people would surely not put up with an extension of Mrs. Arroyo’s power beyond June 2010.

“Never underestimate the capacity of the Filipino to wage people power. If Mrs. Arroyo mishandles her cards in the final months of her discredited presidency, she ought to be prepared to be decisively removed from power.”

“We suspect that Mrs. Arroyo is preparing the legal framework to ensure her peaceful ascent as Prime Minister despite the conduct of the 2010 elections, and of utmost importance in such framework is the immediate appointment of a loyal and pliant Chief Justice.” This was the statement of Terry Ridon, National Chairperson of the League of Filipino Students and senior of the UP College of Law, as the LFS joined hundreds of lawyers, law students and supporters in a protest rally in front of the Supreme Court to voice their opposition to Malacanang’s ‘sinister moves’.

Ridon said that the unrelenting interest of Malacanang and GMA’s allies in Congress in pushing for Charter Change, and her candidacy as a district representative are all but clear indications that her plans of becoming Prime Minister is still in full swing.

“The task therefore of the Arroyo Supreme Court is to look for all legal justifications for Charter Change and her eventual regaining of political power despite the election a new President by May.”
Ridon also intimated that Arroyo’s appointment of a new Chief Justice during the prohibitive period is not only patently unconstitutional but would make Arroyo completely comparable to the former dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

“She had not only declared martial law and imprisoned activists like Marcos did, but will soon have completely established an Arroyo Supreme Court similar to the situation under the dictatorship where the SC kowtowed to Marcosian fiat.” Ridon said.

He also said that such appointment may ensure that Mrs. Arroyo and her allies shall be treated with kid gloves by the courts, upon the filing of graft and plunder cases against her once she leaves Malacanang by June 30.

The LFS plans to stage more protest actions in the next few weeks on the matter.

MILITANT students in Davao City will file a human rights violation case against Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Norberto Gonzales on Monday, a student leader said.
Members of militant League of Filipino Students (LFS) and Anakbayan did a blitzkrieg Wednesday just as Secretary Gonzales was speaking about democratic election during a forum at Ateneo de Davao University (Addu).
Gonzales in turn tagged one militant student a communist and the group was ordered out of the venue.
“We plan to file a human rights violation case against him on Monday at the Commission on Human Rights. We’re now asking for help from the UPLM (Union of People’s Lawyers in Mindanao),” Karlos Manlupig, LFS Southern Mindanao spokesperson, said Saturday through phone.
He said their case will be grounded on the harassment made against them by forcing him and other militant students to leave the forum venue.
“Yung isa sa amin, Joselito Lagon o Bulldog, ay hinila-hila pa from 9th auditorium to Atenews. It was Gonzales’ security who gave the order to have us out the venue, so we consider him responsible. Second is ang pag-tag sa akin as ‘communist’. That’s an indirect order to have me arrested,” Manlupig said.
He said Lagon has been expelled from Atenews, the official student publication of Addu.
The university had arranged the said forum, with Gonzales as main guest to discuss the roles of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the church, faith communities and civil societies during the elections.
In the open forum, Manlupig stood up and confronted Gonzales.
“How can someone who masterminds political killings in the country represent democracy? We could not forget that Gonzales was the architect of the Oplan Bantay Laya 2. We could not forget that many people suddenly disappeared in Arroyo’s regime,” Manlupig said.
Gonzales replied: “I dislike having bodyguards. But when I roam around (the country) and communists want to kill me, I have to. That’s why, I doubt with the way he talks, he sounds like a communist,” referring to Manlupig.
Being referred by Gonzales as like a communist, Manlupig raised his voice and said: “Hindi po.”
Gonzales continued his retort. “I pity you. It is my right to pity you. It is the youth’s responsibility to know the truth. I am a person who would rather live peacefully and I dislike having bodyguards around me. Do you know why I have bodyguards? Because the communists want to kill me. All those who die in this country, they implicate that I am the brain of extra-judicial killings.”
“Every NPA (New People’s Army) member is licensed to kill me, that’s what they are doing. That is the price I have to pay because I am unveiling the truth,” Gonzales added.
In his talk, Gonzales said the blurred definition of rebellion and subversion is one of the reasons many of the youth join organizations that are the forefront of the NPA.
“Rebellion and subversion in this country is not well understood by the many. I wish that our lawmakers would make clear what rebellion and subversion is,” Gonzales said.
Reacting on the outburst, Colonel Benito de Leon, senior military assistant to the Secretary of National Defense, said the students were entitled to their opinion and their protest was part of the freedom of expression.

DEFENSE chief Norberto Gonzales was caught off guard when several militant students jeered him during a forum at the Ateneo de Davao University Wednesday afternoon.

Members of the militant League of Filipino Students (LFS) and Anakbayan did a blitzkrieg just as Secretary Gonzales was speaking about democratic election at the said forum.

Students called Gonzales as “Secretary of Arroyo’s Defense” and lambasted his brainchild, the government’s counter-insurgency program Oplan Bantay Laya for allegedly having victimized thousands of youth and civilians.

“How can someone who masterminds political killings in the country represent democracy,” Karlos Manlupig of LFS-Southern Mindanao ranted.

“Hindi makakalimutan ng mamamayan na isa si Gonzales sa arkitekto ng Oplan Bantay Laya 2. Hindi makakalimutan ng kabataan ang libu-libong walang-awang pinatay sa ilalim ng rehimeng Arroyo,” the student leader added.

The student protesters brought with them placards denouncing Gonzales and the Arroyo government.

The protesters were readily whisked away by the school guards out of the auditorium where the forum was held and attended by hundreds of students and teachers.

The LFS said one student was dragged and was forced to surrender his school ID.

Gonzales meanwhile tagged Manlupig as a communist whom he said belongs to a group who wants him dead.

“Kaawa-awa naman ang batang yun. Puro na lang kasinungalingan ang kanyang pinagsasabi. Talagang naimpluwensyahan na sya,” Gonzales said in a television interview.

“Gonzalez is a bigot. His ideas are not only preposterous, his anti-communist tirade belongs to the dustbin of history, as old as US Senator McCarthy in the 1950s. We belong to a legal organization fighting for just demands. By publicly declaring that we are communists, Gonzales signed our death sentence, as it is an indirect order for the state mercenaries to arrest, torture and kill us,” Manlupig retorted.

The youth insisted that the objective of Gonzales in the city is to further manipulate the election to serve the interest of Arroyo.

“The presence of Arroyo’s most rabid dogs, including Palparan, Alcover, Nograles, and Gonzales, in the city means that Arroyo is desperate to cling to power. But we warn you. The youth will not think twice to defend their rights,” stressed Manlupig.

“We will fight these demons until Arroyo and her minions be severely punished,” he added.

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on February 12, 2010.

MILITANT students in Davao City will file a human rights violation case against Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Norberto Gonzales on Monday, a student leader said.

Members of militant League of Filipino Students (LFS) and Anakbayan did a blitzkrieg Wednesday just as Secretary Gonzales was speaking about democratic election during a forum at Ateneo de Davao University (Addu).

Gonzales in turn tagged one militant student a communist and the group was ordered out of the venue.

“We plan to file a human rights violation case against him on Monday at the Commission on Human Rights. We’re now asking for help from the UPLM (Union of People’s Lawyers in Mindanao),” Karlos Manlupig, LFS Southern Mindanao spokesperson, said Saturday through phone.

He said their case will be grounded on the harassment made against them by forcing him and other militant students to leave the forum venue.

“Yung isa sa amin, Joselito Lagon o Bulldog, ay hinila-hila pa from 9th auditorium to Atenews. It was Gonzales’ security who gave the order to have us out the venue, so we consider him responsible. Second is ang pag-tag sa akin as ‘communist’. That’s an indirect order to have me arrested,” Manlupig said.

He said Lagon has been expelled from Atenews, the official student publication of Addu.

The university had arranged the said forum, with Gonzales as main guest to discuss the roles of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the church, faith communities and civil societies during the elections.

In the open forum, Manlupig stood up and confronted Gonzales.

“How can someone who masterminds political killings in the country represent democracy? We could not forget that Gonzales was the architect of the Oplan Bantay Laya 2. We could not forget that many people suddenly disappeared in Arroyo’s regime,” Manlupig said.

Gonzales replied: “I dislike having bodyguards. But when I roam around (the country) and communists want to kill me, I have to. That’s why, I doubt with the way he talks, he sounds like a communist,” referring to Manlupig.

Being referred by Gonzales as like a communist, Manlupig raised his voice and said: “Hindi po.”

Gonzales continued his retort. “I pity you. It is my right to pity you. It is the youth’s responsibility to know the truth. I am a person who would rather live peacefully and I dislike having bodyguards around me. Do you know why I have bodyguards? Because the communists want to kill me. All those who die in this country, they implicate that I am the brain of extra-judicial killings.”

“Every NPA (New People’s Army) member is licensed to kill me, that’s what they are doing. That is the price I have to pay because I am unveiling the truth,” Gonzales added.

In his talk, Gonzales said the blurred definition of rebellion and subversion is one of the reasons many of the youth join organizations that are the forefront of the NPA.

“Rebellion and subversion in this country is not well understood by the many. I wish that our lawmakers would make clear what rebellion and subversion is,” Gonzales said.

Reacting on the outburst, Colonel Benito de Leon, senior military assistant to the Secretary of National Defense, said the students were entitled to their opinion and their protest was part of the freedom of expression. (JCZ)

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on February 14, 2010.

The League of Students declared today that the Armed Forces of the Philippines has absolutely no case against the forty-three health workers illegally arrested and detained in Morong, Rizal last weekend. The student group pressed for the immediate release of the Morong 43 during a protest action outside the habeas corpus proceedings at the Court of Appeals.

“If the AFP is relying on the illegally obtained and planted evidence of supposed explosives and firearms discovered at the Morong resthouse to build their spurious case of illegal possession of firearms and explosives, they are completely out of their minds and ignorant even of their own laws. ” This was the statement of Terry Ridon, National Chairperson of the League of Filipino Students, as the LFS explained that illegally obtained evidence through illegal searches and seizures are completely inadmissible in any criminal prosecution.

Ridon said the inadmissibility is due to the historic propensity of security forces to plant evidence during illegal searches especially against political dissenters, similar to the experience during the Marcos dictatorship.

“The supposed filing of mere illegal possession of firearms and explosives is incontrovertible proof that the AFP has no case against the community health workers they shamelessly label as NPA rebels. Had they been truly confident, they would have filed outright rebellion charges, but they have not.” Ridon said.

He said that on the basis of illegally obtained evidence being inadmissible to prove the charges of the AFP and their inability to show that they indeed have a serious case, the Morong 43 should be released immediately.

Ridon also lambasted the supposed confession of one of the members of Morong 43 as being an NPA member while accusing the others of being NPA members themselves.

“Under the conditions of torture and coercion in Camp Capinpin as stated by the Commission on Human Rights, such an admission can certainly be expected. It is nonetheless of zero probative value to make the case of the AFP because admissions can only bind the ones making it and not other persons. Moreover, confessions done in the absence of counsel are absolutely inadmissible as evidence, and such was the case with the Morong 43.”

Ridon again reitereated that the AFP personnel involved in the illegal arrest, search and detention of the Morong 43 shall be liable under international humanitarian law for targeting medical personnel uninvolved in armed conflict.

“These AFP personnel no different form the Nazi Gestapo and are thus war criminals of a modern kind.” Ridon finally said.

Davao City- Students led by League of Filipino Students (LFS) and Anakbayan yesterday staged a lightning rally as Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales spoke in a forum held at the Ateneo de Davao University. Ironically, as he urged for a democratic election, Gonzales was interrupted by students who called him as “Secretary of Arroyo’s Defense” and lambasted his brainchild, the government’s counter-insurgency program Oplan Bantay Laya (OBL) as having victimized thousands of youth and civilians.

“How can someone who masterminds political killings in the country represent democracy?” said Karlos Manlupig, LFS-Southern Mindanao spokesperson. “Hindi makakalimutan ng mamamayan na isa si Gonzales sa arkitekto ng Oplan Bantay Laya 2. Hindi makakalimutan ng kabataan ang libu-libong walang-awang pinatay sa ilalim ng rehimeng Arroyo.”

The youth also condemned the harassment done by Gonzales and the security personnel. One student was dragged and was forced to surrender his school ID. And Gonzales blatantly tagged Manlupig as a communist whom he said belongs to a group who wants him dead.

“Gonzales is a bigot. His ideas are not only preposterous, his anti-communist tirade belongs to the dustbin of history, as old as US Senator Mc Carthy in the 1950s. We belong to a legal organization fighting for just demands. By publicly declaring that we are communists, Gonzales signed our death sentence, as it is an indirect order for the state mercenaries to arrest, torture and kill us,” Manlupig stressed.

The youth insisted that the objective of Gonzales in the city is to further manipulate the election to serve the interest of Arroyo.

“The presence of Arroyo’s most rabid dogs, including Palparan, Alcover, Nograles and Gonzales, in the city means that Arroyo is desperate to cling to power,” stressed Manlupig. “But we warn you. The youth will not think twice to defend their rights.”

“We will fight these demons until Arroyo and her minions be severely punished,” Manlupig said.

OBL 2, the controversial counter-insurgency program of the US-Arroyo Regime, brought havoc among the citizenry killing thousands of activists, church people, social workers and innocent civilians. As May 10 elections and June 2010 deadline of Arroyo to crush the revolutionary movement nears, massive military operations occur in the regions particularly in Southern Mindanao. ###

PRESS RELEASE
February 10, 2010

The League of Filipino Students warned that the Armed Forces of the Philippines shall be liable under International Humanitarian Law for the illegal arrest and detention of 43 health workers who were engaged in a community health seminar in Morong, Rizal.

“The Geneva Convention had always been unequivocal in the protection of medical personnel during times of armed conflict – Medical personnel exclusively engaged in the prevention of disease shall be respected and protected in all circumstances. The community health seminar was organized precisely for the prevention of disease in far-flung communities.” This was the statement of Terry Ridon, National Chairperson of the League of Filipino Students, as the LFS trooped to the General Headquarters of the AFP in Camp Aguinaldo to press for the immediate release of the forty-three health workers.

Ridon also said that with the illegal search, arrest and continuing detention of the Morong 43, the AFP is in absolute violation of International Humanitarian Law because it is in no way protecting and respecting medical personnel engaged in a medical seminar as required by the Geneva Convention.

“Moreover, with the reports on torture and forced confessions being confirmed by the day, the military handlers and their chiefs may even be labeled as war criminals under International Humanitarian Law.” Ridon said.

He said that the AFP is also separately liable under international law for violating the Morong 43’s rights as civilians in the middle of an armed conflict. Civilians, including medical personnel, are protected under international humanitarian law from armed attacks and harassment even in non-international armed conflicts such as the ongoing communist insurgency.

“Clearly, there is no escape from liability for their atrocities against community health workers whose rights are violated as we speak. This appears to be the reward of the Arroyo regime for health workers trooping to the most underserved barangays precisely because of her failures in healthcare delivery.”

Ridon said that by labeling the Morong 43 as NPA rebels, the AFP is foolishly seeking to undo their own ignorant brazenness and complete disrespect for human life and dignity.

“The status of the Morong 43 is unquestionable. They are all part of legitimate non-government community health organizations. On the other hand, the position of the AFP is nothing but dubious conjecture, and the illegality of their acts are as clear as day.”

The LFS vowed to vigorously campaign for the release of the Morong 43 in the next few weeks.

PRESS RELEASE
February 9, 2010

On the first day of the national electoral campaign, the League of Filipino Students joined the very festive march of Kabataan Partylist to drumbeat its bid for re-election in May 2010.

“We believe in the sincerity and resolve of Kabataan Partylist to contribute to meaningful social reforms in the Philippine Congress, such as its successful campaign to stop the policy of ‘no-permit, no-exam’,” This was the statement of Terry Ridon, National Chairperson of the League of Filipino Students, as the LFS vowed to mobilize its thousand-strong members to serve as volunteers to help Kabataan Partylist gain three seats in the House of Representatives.

Ridon said Kabataan Partylist had spearheaded a lot of bills and resolutions in Congress, all of which were for the purpose of uplifting the plight of students, youth and even our working people.

“These are the kind of partylist groups that need to be voted into public office, unlike fake partylists such as Bantay and ANAD, which have as its objectives the mere vilification of progressive partylists like Kabataan.” Ridon said.

He said that Kabataan Partylist had also been at the forefront of relief efforts during typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, with Kabataan volunteers and even re-electionist Cong. Raymond Palatino distributing aid to thousands of our countrymen affected by rising floodwaters.

“Today, we reaffirm our commitment to Kabataan Partylist and vow to make them return to Congress to continue its politics of change and hope.”