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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider No reason for lawyers to fear for their lives, Palace assures

No reason for lawyers to fear for their lives, Palace assures

Published Mar 15, 2021 04:11 pm

Malacañang assured lawyers that they do not have to fear for their lives because the government did not tolerate the irregular action of an intelligence officer that sought the names of lawyers representing "communist-terrorist" groups.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr.(CAMILLE ANTE / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr.(CAMILLE ANTE / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar ordered the relief of Calbayog intelligence chief Police Lt. Fernando Calabria for requesting from a Calbayog court a list of lawyers supposedly representing communist rebels.

In his Monday presser, Roque rejected suggestions that lawyers should be afraid because of the incident.

"Sa aking pananaw po walang ganoon dahil sinibak nga po yung humingi (I don't think they have reason to be afraid because the police who requested for the list was fired)," he said.

"Siguro po kung hindi sinibak yung humingi eh baka may dahilan nang matakot (Perhaps if the was not fired, then that's the time they will have a reason to be afraid)," he added.

According to Roque, the government did not tolerate the act which was described by Eleazar as "unprofessional" and "irresponsible."

"Pero nakita natin na hindi naman po kinunsinte ng gobyerno 'yan at dahil diyan wala pong dahilan para matakot ang mga abogado (We saw that the government did not tolerate that and because of that, lawyers should not fear for their lives)," he said.

Eleazar has apologized for Calabria's actions, saying his move was not sanctioned by the PNP.

"Our apology comes with an assurance to the judiciary and the members of the legal community that it is not and will never be the policy of the PNP to run after or even inflict harm on lawyers and members of the judiciary while performing their sworn duty," Eleazar explained.

He added that he also ordered an investigation on the matter.

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