A group of trial court judges has demanded a stop to red-tagging and vilification of its members.

“As members of the Bench, we call on fellow judges: let us refuse to be victims, let us choose to be enablers of the rule of law,” Hukom, Inc. said in a statement dated March 18.

“And we appeal to all sectors to help us serve the public better by allowing us the space to do so without threats, pressure and improper interference,” it said.

A check with the Supreme Court (SC) showed that Hukom, Inc. is a new organization of judges aside from the Philippine Judges Association (PJA) and the Philippine Women Judges Association (PWJA).

The group issued the statement in response to the tarpaulins that were put up, particularly along EDSA.

Printed in the tarpaulins was a thank you message to Mandaluyong City regional trial court (RTC) Judge Monique Quisumbing-Ignacio for dismissing the illegal possession of firearms and explosives cases against journalist Lady Ann Salem and trade unionist Rodrigo Esparago.

Also printed were the logos of several outlawed  groups like the Communist Party of the Philippines.

 “We, members of Hukom, Inc., an organization of trial court judges, view these acts (such as red-tagging or online vilification) as attacks on the rule of law and independence of the judiciary,” the group said.

 “These acts must be called out because of their chilling effect on the exercise of our judicial functions and the lasting damage they cause to our institution,” it pointed out.

 The group said that its members “have often kept silent whenever our decisions came under attack.”

“We have chosen to let our decisions speak on our behalf, aware that judicial remedies are available for parties affected,” it said.

But it lamented that “social media platforms have exacerbated and intensified the formation of public views, in many cases, without the solid backing of verified facts.”