At 72, Federico Gapuz does not look like a swashbuckling lawyer with a 10-gallon Stetson hat. But make no mistake: he does not seem to have passed his prime either. Gapuz remains among the few, brave men of the legal profession who wouldn?t hesitate to come to the rescue of people prosecuted ? and persecuted — for their political beliefs. Davao Today managing editor Cheryll D. Fiel recently had the chance to chat with this ?people?s lawyer.?
Foreign delegates at a recent gathering of lawyers in Davao City bewailed the continued killings of activists and the harassment and other threats being faced by lawyers who take the cases of the poor and those who suffer from abuses of the state. Davao Today?s Cheryll D. Fiel reports.
Leaders of business, legal and progressive groups are elated over the Supreme Court?s decision junking the petition for a ?people?s initiative? to change the Constitution. But, they warn, the fight to protect the charter from vested political interests is not yet over. Davao Today?s Cheryll D. Fiel and Grace S. Uddin report.
Related stories:
Ermita: SC Decision on People’s Initiative Not a Total Setback to Cha-Cha Movement
Satur Hails SC Ruling vs. Palace Initiative
?Best News of the Century? ? Pimentel
Beltran Hails Supreme Court Decision Against People?s Initiative Petition
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said today he did not consider as a “total setback” to the Charter change movement the Supreme Court?s rejection of the People?s Initiative in amending the Constitution.
In his weekly press conference in Malacanang this afternoon, Ermita said the High Tribunal?s decision left open other “legal procedures” to appeal the ruling.
That legal procedure, he added, is the filing of a motion for reconsideration in hopes that the High Court would “change its mind.”
Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today hailed the decision of eight High Court justices, including Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban, Justices Consuelo Ynares-Santiago, Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez, Antonio Carpio, Romeo Callejo Sr., Ma. Alicia Martinez, Conchita Carpio-Morales and Adolfo Azcuna againdt the people’s initiative petition.
“This is very heartening news,” said Beltran. “This gives strong encouragement to the broad anti-charter change movement. The eight justices have done a great service to the Filipino people and the country but resisting Malacanang pressure and thumbing down the bogus signature petition for charter change.”
(more…)
