The military in the Philippines arrested 43
workers who were in health outreach project, saying that they have
communist ties. The National Union of Peoples' Lawyers released the
statement below on 11 February 2010, calling it "gestapo-like raid."
The military in the Philippines arrested 43
workers who were in health outreach project, saying that they have
communist ties. The National Union of Peoples' Lawyers released the
statement below on 11 February 2010, calling it "gestapo-like raid."

The
National Union of Peoples' Lawyers denounces the illegal arrest,
continued illegal detention, torture and cruel, degrading and inhuman
treatment of forty-three (43) health workers abducted by the military
in the morning of February 6, 2010.

This
act of the military shows a blatant disregard and disrespect not only
of proper legal procedures but also of basic human dignity, and is
replete with human rights violations left and right.

From
the very beginning, the search itself was illegal, because it proceeded
from a search warrant that was invalid on its face. But the indubitable
fact is that the "evidence" that was presented were routinarily planted
to justify and cover-up the illegality of this blunder.  The
arrested health workers were also denied their basic constitutional
rights which every civilized society should follow. They were purposely
uninformed of the nature of their arrest, and they were simply
blindfolded and led away like cattle. Also, all the health workers were
denied visit by counsel, doctors, and family, in clear contravention of
their rights.  Up to now, despite our protestations and
assertions as members of the court sworn to perform our duties, we have
been denied access to our clients in utter disregard and contempt of
the basic right to counsel.

We
have also received the latest reports from the detained health workers
that they have been subjected to acts of torture, both physical and
mental, by their military abductors. It is deplorable that the military
was determined to showcase their brute force and superior strength by
sending eight (8) military trucks, two (2) armored personnel carriers,
and at least three hundred (300) heavily-armed soldiers and policemen
to arrest forty-three (43) unarmed health workers.

By
the way, these health workers, according to the military, are members
of the New Peoples' Army. In fact, the military does not suspect it;
the military is 101% sure that these workers have Communist ties. But
they are legitimate health workers, doing legitimate health outreach
projects. Among them are doctors, nurses, and medical aides, who have
chosen to devote themselves to helping the local community by bringing
the medical missions to them, since the government is unable or refuses
to do it.

The National Union of Peoples' Lawyers, together with the Public 
Interest
Law Center (PILC), will defend to the fore our clients and ensure that
civil, administrative, and criminal cases will be filed both in the
local and international fora against each and every one accountable  for
this latest affront to human rights   We
have also closed ranks with our colleagues in the profession in the
international community to expose this barbaric and unmitigated
travesty that happens  under
this government that has no qualms and sense of decency. We further
challenge those running in the coming elections to unequivocally state
where they stand on this basic question of the so-called rule of law
and human rights.

To read the complete statement, please click here
(National Union of Peoples' Lawyers website).