3 Davao lawyers get writ of amparo

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – A regional trial court (RTC) judge here has granted the petition for a writ of amparo of three city-based human rights lawyers against military and police officers.

Lawyers Carlos Isagani Zarate, Lilibeth Ladaga and city councilor Angela Librado-Trinidad sought the writ after their names were included in an “order of battle” reportedly issued by the Army’s 10th Infantry Division sometime in 2007.

In issuing the writ, RTC Branch 10 Judge Jose Emmanuel Castillo cited probable case in the petition of the three lawyers, who said their inclusion in the “order of battle” endangers their lives, especially with the alleged forced disappearances and “salvaging” of those critical of the Arroyo administration.

Named respondents in the petition were 10th ID chief Maj. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu; Col. Lysander Suerte, chief of staff of the 10th ID; Lt. Col. Kurt Decapia, chief of the 10th ID’s public affairs office; Col. Oscar Lactao, chief of Task Force Davao; Senior Superintendent Ramon Apolinario, Davao City police chief, as well as members of the different intelligence units of the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police.

Castillo scheduled a summary hearing on Monday, requiring all the petitioners and respondents to be present.

“The lawyers have the right to file a petition. We will properly answer it in the courts,” said Mapagu, adding that such an “order of battle” does not exist at all.

At least 110 people were supposedly listed in the “order of battle” that the military allegedly issued to put an end to the communist insurgency.

The three lawyers claimed the “order of battle” was contained in a PowerPoint presentation marked “secret” and captioned as “3rd Quarter 2007 OB Validation result” and prepared by the JCICC “Agila” under the 10th ID’s Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence.