The National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) called on Sunday, Feb. 14, for the release of journalist Lady Ann Salem and trade unionist Rodrigo Esparago.
This was after the Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court (RTC) on Feb. 5 voided the search warrants issued against Salem and Esparago, and junked the illegal possession of firearms and explosives charges filed against them.
In a statement, the NUJP condemned the police and Mandaluyong City Prosecutors’ Office for “blocking” the release of Salem and Esparago despite the dismissal of what they called as “trumped up” criminal charges against them.
"The law is meant to protect, not persecute, the people. Too often, however, it is turned into a weapon by the very people supposedly sworn to uphold it and wielded against those supposed to benefit from it,” the NUJP said.
“This is all too evident in the case of Icy (Salem), who remains behind bars despite the very clear findings of Judge Monique Quisumbing-Ignacio of Mandaluyong RTC Branch 209 who, on February 5, voided the search warrant issued by Quezon City Judge Cecilyn Burgos-Villavert because it violated the Constitution and the Rules of Court, and scored the police for going on a ‘fishing expedition’ and providing ‘inconsistent’ testimonies,” it added.
Salem, an editor of the news website Manila Today, and Esparago were among the seven people, dubbed as “Human Rights 7”, who were arrested in a series of police operations on Dec. 10, 2020.
“If anything, the judgment should be more than enough reason not only to release Icy and Rodrigo but also to hold accountable each and everyone involved in this clear attempt to pervert the law. Yet here we see the city prosecutor and police advocating double jeopardy!,” said the NUJP.
“While Judge Quisumbing-Ignacio's decision was as courageous as it was just, it says everything about how our laws, how justice itself, have been and continue to be perverted and diminished that this ruling is the exception rather than the norm,” it added.
Meanwhile, the journalist union said the ruling gives them reason to hope that Salem, Esparago, and those imprisoned and prosecuted on false charges shall be free.