Save Phillipine Activists from Court Persecution

Saladero and others released from prison

On February 5, 2009, the regional trial court in Mindoro, Philippines announced that six detained labour and human rights activists, including Atty. Remigio D. Saladero Jr., were to be immediately released. Along with 66 other labour and human rights activists, the six had been charged with multiple murder and attempted murder in a New People's Army ambush in Mindoro in 2006. The court ruled that proper legal procedures were not followed, and therefore put an end to the case against them.

This court ruling is a victory for the labour and human rights movement in the Philippines who have argued that these kind of accusations seem specifically designed to cripple the Philippine labour movement by putting activists behind bars, forcing them into hiding, and burdening their colleagues with organising a legal defense. Sadly, just barely a week after Atty. Remigio D. Saladero Jr. and the five other activists were released, a new murder case has been filed against them. Although no arrest warrants have yet been issued, it is clear that the Philippine authorities are determined to continue their legal offensive.

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New case copy of the Mindoro accusations
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The current case involves the killing of Ricky Garmino, member of the paramilitary group Civilian Auxiliary Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU), in Rizal on July 29, 2008. Witnesses allegedly recognized 70 of the 72 labour and human rights activists named in the Mindoro case, and were able to name them in the exact same order as in the Mindoro case files. Full-time lawyers, polio and diabetes patients, and activists in wheelchairs are included in the list of accused. A preliminary investigation in this case is set on March 6 at the Rizal prosecutor's office.

Atty. Remigio D. Saladero Jr. and his group of lawyers have filed a petition for protection against unlawful acts of public officials (writ of Amparo) with the Supreme Court. It remains unclear whether the Mindoro case against the 72 activists will be re-filed, which could again lead to arrest warrants of all activists concerned.

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Take action today.
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Write to the Philippine government and Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) to immediately stop the persecution of labour and human rights activists.

Take action now at: http://www.cleanclothes.org/urgent/09-03-03.htm#action