Cong. Edcel C. Lagman: A stalwart defender of rights and liberties
Cong. Lagman’s impact extended into the legislative arena where he consistently championed measures that defended the marginalized and upheld human dignity. His authorship and advocacy of the Human Rights Defenders Bill exemplified his recognition of the critical role played by human rights defenders and his determination to protect them from harassment.
January 31, 2025
NUPL
The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers is a nationwide voluntary association of human rights lawyers in the Philippines, committed to the defense, protection, and promotion of human rights, especially of the poor and the oppressed.
Cong. Edcel with NUPL President Atty. Ephraim B. Cortez
during the oral arguments against Marcos’ burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in 2016

The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) joins the nation in honoring the life and legacy of Congressman Edcel C. Lagman, whose steadfast commitment to human rights and civil liberties has left an indelible mark on the country’s legal and political landscape.

It is our honor to have stood beside Cong. Lagman in landmark cases that tested the limits of power and the resilience of our democracy. Together, we questioned the burial of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in 2016 and challenged the extension of martial law in Mindanao from 2017 to 2019. In 2021, we confronted the Anti-Terrorism Act, a law that threatens the very fabric of liberty and dissent. At every step, his voice was one of reason and principle, providing direction when freedoms were at risk. The courtroom will never be the same without him.

Cong. Lagman’s impact extended into the legislative arena where he consistently championed measures that defended the marginalized and upheld human dignity. His authorship and advocacy of the Human Rights Defenders Bill exemplified his recognition of the critical role played by human rights defenders and his determination to protect them from harassment.

Cong. Lagman’s legacy will continue to inspire future generations of lawyers, activists, and citizens who refuse to accept injustice and who will carry forward his fight for accountability and freedom. #

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The petitioners, all respected advocates for indigenous peoples’ rights and self-determination, sought judicial review of their designation as terrorists by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) in 2023. Their petition constituted the first—and, to our knowledge, remains the only—as-applied constitutional challenge to the ATC’s power to designate individuals and organizations as terrorists under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.

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