CASE No - Inter-Parliamentary Union

- 3 - CL/183/SR.1
ANNEX XXX
Considering lastly that the House of Representatives has adopted a series of resolutions to
inquire into politically motivated killings, summary executions and enforced disappearances, urging the
Government inter alia to immediately sign and ratify the United Nations International Convention for the
Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance; that in Resolution 118, it directed the House
Committee on Civil, Political and Human Rights inter alia to "conduct an investigation into the various
forms of human rights violations and attacks against members and leaders of Anakpawis Party-list and
other progressive parties and organizations … and to put an end to political repression of the party lists
they belong to",
1. Thanks the House of Representatives and the Permanent Representative of the Philippines
to the United Nations Office in Geneva for their cooperation;
2. Recalls that the rebellion charges, which were initially filed against the parliamentarians
concerned by IALAG after nine months of preparation, were finally dismissed by the
Supreme Court as clearly being politically motivated, which casts doubt on IALAG‘s
"utmost respect for the fundamental human rights of due process, equal protection, and
the rule of law"; recalls that, likewise, a petition to bar the political parties to which the
parliamentarians concerned belong from standing in the last elections was dismissed by the
Commission on Elections for lack of merit;
3. Has therefore grounds to remain concerned at the new criminal cases brought against the
parliamentarians in question, especially in the light of the serious allegations that the
charges have been fabricated and due process is not being observed, as these proceedings
may well be part of an ongoing effort to remove them and their political parties from the
democratic political process;
4. Expresses particular concern at the considerable delay in the prosecution’s efforts to resolve
the “obstruction of justice” case against Representative Casiño, which was filed more than
one year ago and has not proceeded at all; fears that such delay may well denote the
absence of a case, and urges the authorities either to drop the charges forthwith or to try
Representative Casiño diligently with due respect for all fair trial guarantees;
5. Is, moreover, concerned at the differing views of the courts on the admissibility of
extrajudicially obtained confessions as evidence; would appreciate receiving information as
to the rules on the admissibility of evidence in Philippine law;
6. Strongly recalls that, in dealing with these cases, the prosecution and judicial authorities
have a duty not to proceed with any case on the basis of political considerations; once
again recalls in this respect the Supreme Court ruling in the rebellion case in which the
Court reiterated "the importance of maintaining the integrity of criminal prosecutions in
general and preliminary investigations in particular" and stated the following: "We cannot
emphasize too strongly that prosecutors should not allow, and should avoid giving the
impression that their noble office is being used or prostituted, wittingly or unwittingly, for
political ends";
7. Reiterates its wish to be kept informed of the proceedings in the cases in question,
including, where appropriate, through the intermediary of a trial observer;
8. Sincerely hopes that the initiatives taken by the House of Representatives to ensure respect
for human rights and the rule of law will succeed, and would appreciate receiving
information on the inquiry entrusted to the House Committee on Civil, Political and
Human Rights to investigate the various forms of human rights violations targeting
progressive party list representatives;
9. Notes finally the accidental death of Mr. Crispin Beltran and decides to close his case;
10. Requests the Secretary General to convey this decision to the competent authorities,
including the National Human Rights Commission, and to the other parties concerned;
11. Requests the Committee to continue examining this case and report to it at its next session,
to be held on the occasion of the 120 th Assembly of the IPU (April 2009).