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Manila Bulletin devider devider House committee seeks inquiry into arrest of lawyers in Makati bar raid

House committee seeks inquiry into arrest of lawyers in Makati bar raid

Published Aug 22, 2018 03:58 pm
By Ben Rosario The chairman of the House Committee on Justice on Wednesday sought a congressional inquiry into the police arrest of three young lawyers while providing for legal assistance to their client during a raid in Makati City. Photo: House of Representatives. Credits to Houstimowparagas.files.wordpress.com | Manila Bulletin House of Representatives. (Credits: Houstimowparagas.files.wordpress.com | Manila Bulletin File Photo) Mindoro Oriental Rep. Doy Leachon, new chairman of the justice panel, said a congressional investigation has become important in determining whether or not there is a need to pass new legislation that would address similar legal controversies in the future. Leachon was joined by 1Ang Edukasyon Partylist Rep. Salvador Belaro in proposing the inquiry to be jointly conducted by the House Committees on Justice and on Good Government and Public Accountability. Both Leachon and Belaro pointed out that irregularity in the incident, saying that this has “serious implication on the observance of basic constitutional rights especially the right to counsel, rights under custodial investigaiton and right to due process” of civilians. They noted that the lawyers who were ordered arrested for allegedly interfering with police work are also officers of the court and were in the scene of the raided bar “to perform their duties as counsel of the said establishment.” Makati policemen detained lawyers Lenie Rocha, Jan Vincent Soliven and Romulo Alarcon and filed criminal charges against the three for allegedly “intimidating” cops who were serving a search warrant on Time in Manila bar on August 16. The three lawyers were reportedly taking pictures and monitoring the raid when arrested. “It is alleged by the raiding team that the said lawyers interfered in the conduct of the said raid for which reason the said lawyers were detained for alleged “obstruction of justice” during its search and inventory, among others” said Leachon in the resolution. “In the event said lawyers’ presence in the said raid is found out to be only for the fulfillment of their duties as officers of the court, a recurrence of said irregularity should never be countenanced because of its chilling effect on the rule of law,” he added.
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