The Law Remembers: Philippine Jurisprudence on Martial Law Atrocities and Stories 21 September 1972 marks the day when the late Dictator Ferdinand Marcos signed Proclamation No. 1081, placing the Philippines under a nationwide state of Martial Law. In what has come to be one of the country’s darkest chapters, Marcos’ tyrannical regime oversaw thousands of human rights violations, including tortures, enforced disappearances, internal displacements, and extrajudicial killings. Legal truths are determined to serve justice. They are ascertained by a judge through a court trial which is governed by procedural and evidentiary rules. They are truths that relate to past events…

UP IHR co-organizes consultation meeting on safe and decent work in Ecozones On 17 September 2021, the UP Institute of Human Rights (UP IHR), in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Foundation for Integrative and Development Studies, and the European Union, held the second of a series of consultations with different sectors in preparation for capacity-building and training programs on safe and decent work in Ecozones scheduled for October 2021. Opening the meeting, Ms. Diane Lynn Respall, Programme Officer of the ILO Country Office in Manila, underscored that tripartite and social dialogue are crucial in upholding international labor…

UP GLPP HOLDS ITS FOUR-PART WORKSHOP SERIES ON PROTECTING LBGBTQI+ FAMILIES UNDER THE CURRENT LEGAL FRAMEWORK The UP Gender Law and Policy Program (UP GLPP) conducted a four-part workshop series entitled, “Protecting LGBTQI+ Families under the Current Legal Framework” last July and August 2021. The webinars provided comprehensive lectures and discussions on the legal protection provided by the current laws and jurisprudence, in the absence of marriage equality laws in the Philippines. The workshop was conducted to provide a deeper understanding of the rights and remedies available to LGBTQI+ individuals and their families. Over 500 registrants across the country took…

Understanding the President’s Treaty Powers, Senate Concurrence and Vested Rights under the recent Pangilinan v. Cayetano Ruling On August 11, 2021, political and international law experts assembled for an event titled “Understanding the President’s Treaty Powers, Senate Concurrence and Vested Rights under the recent Pangilinan v. Cayetano Ruling.” This was a Malcolm Lecture co-organized by the UP College of Law, UP Law Center Institute of International Legal Studies, and the Justice George Malcolm Foundation, Inc. Prof. Michael Tiu, Jr. (UP IILS International Criminal Law Program Head) and Prof. Fina Tantuico (Malcolm Foundation Corporate Secretary) facilitated the Malcolm Lecture. Supreme Court…

Institut de Droit International (“IDI”) elected Former International Criminal Court Judge Raul Pangalangan as “membre associé” On 23 August 2021, the Institut de Droit International (“IDI”) elected former Judge of the International Criminal Court Raul Pangalangan as “membre associé.” The IDI (translated: Institute of International Law) was founded in 1873 for the scientific study of international law, and has won the Nobel Peace Prize for its work in promoting “peaceful ties between nations and to make the laws of war more humane." It is a private association and is independent of governments. The IDI has initiated historic peace conferences and…

Two Certificate Courses of the Paralegal Training Program (PTP) Completed August 2021 is an auspicious month for completing and holding the back-to-back virtual closing ceremonies of two (2) fully online certificate courses of the Paralegal Training Program (PTP) of the UP Law Center. The first PTP course which was completed on August 20, 2021 was the customized Second Foundation Certificate Course for Officers and Paralegals of the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation (NHMFC), or simply PTP-NHMFC (2) which was specially designed for NHMFC as one of the country’s key government shelter agency and secondary home mortgage institution. There were 67…