The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has lauded the Supreme Court (SC) for denouncing and warning that sanctions will be imposed on those who "incite violence through social media and other means which endanger the lives of judges and their families.”
In a statement, the CHR said that Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo assured the protection of members of the judiciary to allow them to carry out their duties “free from any threat, harassment, undue influence, coercion, and, certainly, any form of violence."
It said the SC’s move came after former National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) Spokesperson Lorraine Marie Badoy reportedly made threats against Judge Marlo Magdoza-Malagar of the Manila Regional Trial Court, Branch 19.
Judge Malagar issued a ruling last Sept. 21 that dismissed the proscription petition filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and declared that the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the New People’s Army (NPA) as not terrorist organizations.
In her Facebook post last Sept. 23, Badoy accused Judge Malagar of "lawyering" for the CPP-NPA.
"So if I kill this judge and I do so out of my political belief that all allies of the CPP NPA NDF (National Democratic Front) must be killed because there is no difference in my mind between a member of the CPP NPA NDF and their friends, then please be lenient with me," Badoy also stated in her Facebook post that was deleted last Saturday, Sept. 24.
Badoy, for her part, denied that she threatened Magdoza-Malagar.
"We note that these recent actions of the SC are in consonance with the United Nation (UN)'s recognition of the indispensable role of the members of the legal profession in the administration of justice," the CHR said.
"As the country's independent national human rights institution, CHR relies on the wisdom of our courts in adjudicating cases of alleged human rights violations so that perpetrators may be held to account and victims and their families receive the justice they deserve," it said.
As "important actors" in the dispensation of justice, the CHR stressed that judges and lawyers deserve security and protection in the performance of their duties.
The CHR urged the government to do its part by conducting prompt and effective investigations on threats and offenses made against the legal profession and members of the judiciary.
"CHR, for its part, will continue its independent investigations to aid in the protection of the members of the legal profession," it said.
"In a time when there is a sustained call for justice, let us not allow any effort to undermine the justice system left unchecked. A country cannot claim the rule of law when even members of the legal profession are threatened and violated."