UP College of Law Statement of Support

Faculty members express grave concern over the filing of criminal charges against UP Law professors Theordore O. Te and Serafin U. Salvador Jr., former UP professor Florin T. Hilbay, the lawyers of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) and the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), based on the statement of Peter Joemel Advincula, a person whose credibility is in serious doubt

We, the undersigned members of the UP College of Law Faculty, express grave concern over the filing of criminal charges against the UP law professors Theodore O. Te and Serafin U. Salvador Jr., former UP professor Florin T. Hilbay, the lawyers of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) and the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), based on the statement of Peter Joemel Advincula, a person whose credibility is in serious doubt.

We stand behind our colleagues Professors Te and Salvador, Atty. Florin T. Hilbay and our colleagues in IBP and FLAG. The charges are nothing but pure harassment, intimidation and undue interference in their professional function.

Under the Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers adopted by the 8th United Nations congress on the prevention of crimes and the treatment of offenders in 1990, paragraphs 16 and 23 provide –

16. Governments shall ensure that lawyers (a) are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference; (b) are able to travel and to consult with their clients freely both within their own country and abroad; and (c) shall not suffer, or be threatened with, prosecution or administrative, economic or other sanctions for any action taken in accordance with recognized professional duties, standards and ethics. (emphasis ours)

23. Lawyers like other citizens are entitled to freedom of expression, belief, association and assembly. In particular, they shall have the right to take part in public discussion of matters concerning the law, the administration of justice and the promotion and protection of human rights and to join or form local, national or international organizations and attend their meetings, without suffering professional restrictions by reason of their lawful action or their membership in a lawful organization. In exercising these rights, lawyers shall always conduct themselves in accordance with the law and the recognized standards and ethics of the legal profession.

This disturbing incident does not augur well for democracy. It is meant to silence legitimate criticism and dissent of lawyers and other members of the opposition.

The undersigned faculty call upon the Secretary of Justice to dismiss the baseless charges against Professors Te, Salvador and Atty. Hilbay and the IBP and FLAG lawyers and the members of the opposition, in the interest of truth, fairness and justice.

Signed:

PACIFICO A. AGABIN
ELIZABETH H. AGUILING-PANGALANGAN
RAMON QUINTIN CLAUDIO C. ALLADO
JOSEPH EMMANUEL L. ANGELES
JESUSA LORETO A. ARELLANO
RAYMOND MARVIC C. BAGUILAT
RYAN HARTZELL C. BALISACAN
EMERSON S. BAÑEZ
CARLOS G. BANIQUED
PETER DONNELY A. BAROT
JAY L. BATONGBACAL
EVELYN (LEO) D. BATTAD
ROENTGEN F. BRONCE
ALFREDO R. CABEZA
BARTOLOME S. CARALE
ARNEL PACIANO D. CASANOVA
CELESTE RUTH L. CEMBRANO-MALLARI
FIDES C. CORDERO-TAN
DEMETRIO JR. C. CUSTODIO
PATRICIA ROSALIND P. S. DAWAY
SENEN AGUSTIN S. DE SANTOS
JOAN A. DE VENECIA
GABRIEL A. DEE
MA. GISELLA N. DIZON-REYES
VICTOR Y. ELEAZAR
AISSA V. ENCARNACION
ELVIRA V. ESCUETA-DUAVIT
RAMON S. ESGUERRA
JACQUELINE JOYCE F. ESPENILLA
ERIC ROSAURO G. ESPIRITU
ALEX FERDINAND S. FIDER
ROBERTO L. FIGUEROA
EMMA C. FRANCISCO
DONNA Z. GASGONIA
DANTE B. GATMAYTAN
MARIA STEPHANIE V. GOMEZ-SOMERA
RENO JR. R. GONZALES
CONCEPCION L. JARDELEZA
ARMINA DIELLE R. KAPUNAN
KESTERSON T. KUA
ANTONIO G.M. LA VIÑA
EDUARDO A. LABITAG
CHRISTOPHER JOHN P. LAO
MA. TANYA KARINA A. LAT
LUISITO V. LIBAN
MA. THERESA G. LIBUNAO
ANNA THERESA L. LICAROS-LIM
DANIEL D. LISING
GLENDA T. LITONG
VICTORIA V. LOANZON
JOHANNA ALERIA P. LORENZO
DINA D. LUCENARIO
SOLOMON F. LUMBA
DONNA PATRICIA C. MANLANGIT
MA. SOLEDAD D. MAWIS
MARTIN D. MIJARES
GOLDA GIGI G. MIÑOZA
ROWENA D. MORALES
SALVADOR II N. MOYA
ALBERTO JR. T. MUYOT
FROILYN D. PAGAYATAN
ANDRE C. PALACIOS
MARIA CECILIA H. POBLADOR
RONALD D. POLICARIO
PATRICIA ANN P. PRODIGALIDAD
ELIZABETH R. PULUMBARIT
GRACE P. QUEVEDO-PANAGSAGAN
ROGELIO V. QUEVEDO
RODRIGO LOPE S. QUIMBO
MARIE CECILE R. QUINTOS
SALAM PIR T. RASUL
JANNET C. REGALADO
CHARLTON JULES P. ROMERO
DENNIS S. SABADO
RODERICK III R.C. SALAZAR
JOSE FAUSTINO S. SAMSON
MICHELLE B. SAN BUENAVENTURA-DY
TEODULO JR. G.SAN JUAN
DIONNE MARIE M. SANCHEZ
FRANCIS V. SOBREVIÑAS
PAOLO EMMANUEL S. TAMASE
MARY ROSE S. TAN
FINA BERNADETTE D. TANTUICO
MICHAEL JR. T. TIU
ARLENE LAPUZ-URETA
CRISOSTOMO A. URIBE
FLORDELIZA C. VARGAS-TRINIDAD
RAUL T. VASQUEZ
SUSAN D. VILLANUEVA
ERNESTINE CARMEN JO D. VILLAREAL-FERNANDO
VIRGINA B.VIRAY
EDGARDO CARLO II L. VISTAN
ANTHONY CHARLEMAGNE C.YU