WHO WE ARE

The genesis of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) emerged from the urgent need for a structured response to the grave human rights violations during Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s administration. These violations, encompassing extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and political persecution, coupled with the imminent enactment of the repressive Republic Act No. 9372 (Human Security Act of 2007), highlighted the pressing necessity for organized legal intervention and advocacy.

Human rights lawyers have historically navigated legal challenges independently, deploying their expertise through individual efforts or affiliations with law firms, people’s organizations, or grassroots movements. Despite aligning within regional or local groups, their actions have been dictated by situational demands and organizational mandates. A unified organization to consolidate their efforts remained elusive.

Thus, the NUPL was conceived as a nationwide voluntary association of human rights lawyers as well as lawyers from mainstream bar groups or traditional legal practice who have expressed interest in human rights lawyering and advocacy in various degrees and capacities. It was envisioned to be a mechanism to coordinate or facilitate legal services and advocacy to ultimately thwart and defeat malicious and politically motivated legal offensives and oppressive state actions against the poor and the marginalized. Membership extended to law students, paralegals, and legal workers. 

The Founding Congress of NUPL, held on September 15-16, 2007, marked a significant gathering, drawing 140 attendees who included legal luminaries such as Vice-President Teofisto Guingona, Supreme Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez representing Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno. 

Atty. Capulong, a former judge at litem at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), presented the concept of people’s lawyering and its significance amidst increasing human rights abuses. He remarked: “There is nothing more fulfilling than to be devoted in defending our clients and people who work for social change. We shall be with themwas they embark on militant actions, engage in empowering undertakings and in the process, strengthen and further unite their ranks. Our commitment to our struggling people is what makes us people’s lawyers.”

Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno also addressed the audience, highlighting the forthcoming approval of the rules on the writs of amparo and habeas data. He emphasized the vital role of human rights lawyering in the fight for human dignity and freedom and praised the courage of people’s lawyers. He said:  

“By calling yourselves the ‘people’s lawyer,’ you have made a remarkable choice. You decided not to remain in the sidelines. Where human rights are assaulted, you have chosen to sacrifice the comfort of the fence to the dangers of the battlefield. But only those who choose to fight on the battlefield live beyond irrelevance… Let us set the bar for human rights and responsibilities high. Let our sharp thoughts and our ironclad will bring forth justice to the villages all over the country, so that we may find some sense of meaning – a sense of justice in our lives.” 

Across six (6) congresses, NUPL has staunchly upheld its objectives, offering pro bono legal services in strategic human rights litigations and engaging in non-litigative actions such as community education, legislative advocacy, and legal research. It has championed the protection of lawyers’ welfare and remains a pivotal force in promoting social justice and national liberation amidst the enduring challenges faced under the current presidency of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.