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PRESS RELEASE
September 3, 2008
Reference:
Lorena Santos (09186615099/4342837/4354146)
Atty. Francis Anthony Principe (092083111043)
Daughter of missing and detained NDFP Consultants filed an Appeal today
to the Supreme Court.
Lorena Santos, daughter of missing Leo Velasco and detained Elizabeth
Principe, both NDFP consultants for the Peace Process today filed to the
Supreme Court an Appeal to the Writ of Amparo and Habeas Corpus for both
her parents. Santos previously filed these petitions to the Court of
Appeals (CA) early this year which the Special 8th Division dismissed.
This division was headed by Justice Jose Sabio who is allegedly involved
with bribery.
Santos filed a Motion for Reconsideration but was again denied.
“If the Special 8th Division would not uphold and protect the rights of my
parents, I am turning to the Supreme Court to seek my prayers,” Santos
said. “This Division of the CA refused to hear my mother’s words and
instead believed to the inconsistencies of the respondents,” she
continues.
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“To Chief Justice Reynaldo
Puno, I turn to you as the main author of the Amparo and trusts that this
will serve as a sincere remedy for victims like my parents.”
According to the Appeal of Santos, “the Special 8th Division of the Court
of Appeals gravely erred in holding that the constitutional rights of
Elizabeth Principe and Leo Velasco were not violated...” The Appeal cited
that Principe was incommunicado for three straight days, was not arrested
with a warrant and that officers who faced the Court were obviously lying
due to their inconsistent statements.
The Appeal also said that “the CA required a degree of proof that
frustrates the intention and the essence of the Writ of Amparo.” Santos
explains that “in cases of enforced disappearances like what happened to
my father, it is very difficult to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the
military are the perpetrators. Witnesses are afraid to stand in court and
there are no other direct evidences left. But we stand that this
government has every intention to pursue my father.”
“I am hoping that the Supreme Court will remain true to its intention to
serve the victims of enforced disappearances and other human rights
violations,” Santos said. “A decision in favor of the victims will help
break the impunity that this government currently enjoys.” ## |
