Supreme Court issues writ of amparo to Visayan rights activist

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) has issued a writ of amparo to a Visayas-based human rights activist who has been charged with the murder of a soldier.

The SC directed the Court of Appeals to hear the petition of human rights activist Paz Silva tomorrow and decide the case within 10 days after its submission for resolution.

Paz is the advocacy officer of Karapatan-Central Visayas, a human rights group seeking a stop to all extra-legal killings and state-sponsored terrorism.

In the writ, the SC ordered the respondents, among them, President Arroyo and Armed Forces chief Gen. Victor Ibrado, to make a verified return of the writ before the CA within five working days from receipt.

In her petition, Paz sought the issuance of a writ of habeas data to compel the respondents to produce information and pictures in their possession on her and her family, home, and correspondence in connection with the murder case filed against her and to correct, suppress or destroy them thereafter.

Paz also wanted a public apology from the respondents.

She said she has been an activist since the 1980s and has been threatened in various ways, including being tailed by purported intelligence agents of the state, receiving threatening messages in her mobile phone, and being slapped with allegedly trumped-up charges.