Remembering Atty. Al Surigao

I was only 12 years old when Atty. Alfonso Surigao was murdered on June 24, 1988 by suspected anti-communist vigilantes, and I have no recollection of those times.

So when Jimmylisa Badayos of Karapatan Central Visayas, also a daughter of martyred human rights workers Jimmy and Elisa Badayos, reminded us at the local chapter of the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) about the 30th death anniversary of Atty. Surigao, I had to ask her to give me a background about the human rights lawyer.

Attorney Surigao was described by his fellow human rights advocates as “a passionate and dedicated human rights lawyer.” Allow me to quote some passages in an open letter written in 2009 by Nancy C. Ugsad-Estolloso, then executive director of a women’s group in Tuburan. She wrote: “[Atty. Surigao] defended the workers here in Cebu, the poor peasants who were harassed by the military in Leyte, and he probably counseled the urban poor, the students and development workers against state terrorism during his time.

“Atty. Surigao genuinely understood the struggle of his friends for genuine land reform, just wage and dignified working conditions, and for social change. On the other hand, he knew the risks of defending the poor. The family and some of his friends strongly advised him to slow down or go abroad for a while knowing that he himself became a target of the military.

“He was not cowed when a bomb was thrown at his small office. He fearlessly continued to defend the poor, eventually became their friend and embraced the cause his friends were fighting for. He lived a simple life and was not lured to go into large corporate practice… Immediately prior to his brutal murder he was defending evacuees from the municipalities of Burauen, La Paz, Leyte known as the Leyte 26 Detainees.”

That period when Atty. Surigao was murdered, indeed, was a dangerous period in our history when the country’s fledgling democracy was being tested and battered from all sides. Rightists felt the Cory Aquino administration was being too friendly with the communists while the leftists realized Aquino was no different from the re-emerging elite oligarchs that had ruled the country prior to Ferdinand Marcos’ brand of patronage network and crony capitalism.

As an activist and human rights lawyer in those times, it was probably easy to be caught literally in the crossfire of opposing forces. This despite the fact that while lawyers are inclined to choose clients with whom they share a common political leaning, they are still bound by their oath and the legal process.

While their vigorous defense of clients push them to the limits afforded by the legal process, their clients undoubtedly understand that lawyers are sworn “to maintain allegiance to the Republic, and to support and defend its Constitution and obey the laws as well as the legal orders of the duly constituted authorities.”

If Atty. Surigao’s enemies deemed that he pushed beyond the limits of his oath and was disloyal to the Republic and Constitution, they could have sought for his suspension or disbarment as a lawyer. But no, those cowards played god and chose to end his life. He was unarmed, at home, and with his family when he was murdered.

As a lawyer who has handled a couple of pro bono human rights and public interest cases under NUPL, my situation today may be nowhere near as dangerous as those experienced by Atty. Surigao and his contemporaries during those times.

But now there are proposed amendments to the anti-terror law that alarm the NUPL. In a statement, the NUPL warns that the proposal “intends to attack dissenters not terrorists.”

“Proposals in Congress to expand the definition of terrorism to cover a broad spectrum of acts including the exercise of freedom of assembly and expression will be used against dissenters and the opposition,” the NUPL said in a statement, “human rights lawyers providing legal services to political prisoners may arguably be imprisoned since the proposed amendment prohibits the vague act of giving of ‘services’ to terrorists,” said the NUPL.

This is a time to be vigilant. Echoing the words of Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, let not the provocative words coming out from our leader’s mouth distract us from addressing the country’s pressing concerns.

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Before I end this piece, allow me to greet my mother, retired Comelec officer Corazon Sususco Cavada Manticajon, who is celebrating her birthday today, June 30. Happy Birthday Mama Sony!