SC trains judges handling extrajudicial killing cases

The Supreme Court will train the first batch of Regional Trial Court judges to handle cases involving killings of political activists and members of the media in the Manila Pavilion Hotel starting today until tomorrow.

The judges will undergo a seminar-workshop designed to tackle the concerns of their special courts on the procedures of identifying and deciding cases on extrajudicial killings.

The first batch of judges for the training would be from the National Capital Judicial Region and the First and Second Judicial Regions. The schedule for the two other batches will be announced later.

Conducting the training is the SC’s education arm, the Philippine Judicial Academy in partnership with the Commission on Human Rights.

The SC said the lecturers are experts in the field of international law, human rights law, and humanitarian law.

They are Justice Adolfo Azcuna, CHR director Purificacion Quisumbing, University of the Philippines-Office of Legal Aid director Theodore Te, and PHILJA professors Sedfrey Candelaria and Herminio Harry Roque.

Last March, the Supreme Court designated 99 RTCs nationwide as special courts to handle cases of extrajudicial killings.

Chief Justice Reynato Puno said the creation of these special courts was done even before Malacañang disclosed the findings of the Independent Commission to Address Media and Activists Killings, headed by retired Justice Jose Melo, which confirmed these extrajudicial killings.

In designating the special courts, the SC also issued guidelines to help them determine whether or not the crime is a "political killing." Among the items to be considered are 1) political affiliation of the victim; 2) method of attack; and 3) reports that state agents are involved in the commission of the crime or have acquiesced in them.

The SC mandated the special courts to conduct continuous trial for such cases, which shall be terminated within 60 days from the start of the hearing.

A judgment shall be rendered within 30 days upon its submission for decision unless a shorter period is provided by the law or otherwise directed by the High Court.

The special courts will be required to submit a report on the status of the cases, which shall be attached to their respective monthly report of cases.

Failure to submit such report shall be a ground for withholding the salaries and allowances of the judges, clerks of court, branch clerks of court concerned without prejudice to any administrative sanction the SC may impose on them. — Joeberth M. Ocao/RAE