# NUPL Philippines


## Posts

- [Red-Tagging and the Policing of Dissent: On the Attack Against Dean Tony La Viña](https://nupl.net/red-tagging-and-the-policing-of-dissent-on-the-attack-against-dean-tony-la-vina/): People’s lawyers will continue to stand together against every form of attack, including red-tagging. Experience should have taught Parlade and others who traffic in this practice that intimidation does not deter us from our work. It only sharpens our resolve to confront the weaponization of law, as seen in the prosecution of the Talaingod 13, and to defend those whose rights are trampled in the name of security.
- [NUPL Calls for a Unified, Rights-Based Law on Body-Worn Cameras](https://nupl.net/nupl-calls-for-a-unified-rights-based-law-on-body-worn-cameras/): The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) has released a policy paper calling on Congress to enact a unified, rights-based Body-Worn Camera Transparency and Accountability Act. At present, the use of body-worn cameras in the Philippines is governed by a patchwork of issuances from the Philippine National Police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, National Police Commission, the National Privacy Commission, and the Supreme Court. These issuances do not operate as a single legal framework. They leave fundamental issues unresolved, including when cameras must be activated, how long recordings must be preserved, who may access them, and what consequences follow when officers fail […]
- [NUPL On the Marcos–Duterte Continuum of Abuse and the Persisting Assault on Human Rights](https://nupl.net/nupl-on-the-marcos-duterte-continuum-of-abuse-and-the-persisting-assault-on-human-rights/): The persistence of repression has only made clearer why collective struggle is necessary—and why people’s lawyers will continue to stand with those who demand justice, dignity, and freedom. 
- [Honor Bonifacio by Defying Impunity](https://nupl.net/honor-bonifacio-by-defying-impunity/): To honor Bonifacio is to take up the courage he lived and continue the unfinished struggle he began: the fight for justice, dignity, and genuine democracy.
- [Court Voids NTC Blocking Memo: Prior Restraint of Protected Speech Has No Place in a Democracy](https://nupl.net/court-voids-ntc-blocking-memo-prior-restraint-of-protected-speech-has-no-place-in-a-democracy/): We therefore call on the people to treat this ruling as a mandate to insist on a press that can report and publish without fear of being taken down, and on a citizenry free to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas across all frontiers. A democracy worthy of the name rests on people who are able to think, speak, debate, and dissent—with journalists and communities prepared to resist censorship and repression whenever they appear, online or offline.
- [STATEMENT: UPLM vows to continue the fight against warlordism and state-sanctioned impunity - MindaNews](https://nupl.net/statement-uplm-vows-to-continue-the-fight-against-warlordism-and-state-sanctioned-impunity-mindanews/): The massacre and the massive corruption are fruits from the same poisonous tree. The tree is a system where power is treated as a personal inheritance, state resources as a private treasury, and the law as a weapon against the people rather than a shield for them. The warlord who orders a massacre to secure an election and the official who diverts billions from the public coffers operate on the same core belief: that they are above the law.
- [Do Not Rehabilitate Martial Law: Enrile Does Not Belong at the Libingan ng mga Bayani — NUPL](https://nupl.net/do-not-rehabilitate-martial-law-enrile-does-not-belong-at-the-libingan-ng-mga-bayani-nupl/): We call on the government and on all Filipinos to resist this renewed attempt to sanitize the legacy of tyranny. Honor is not conferred by burial rites; it is earned by service grounded in truth, justice, and respect for human dignity. Enrile’s record speaks for itself, and no decree, ceremony, or grave at the Libingan can rewrite it.
- [Do Not Mistake Criticism for Crime —NUPL](https://nupl.net/do-not-mistake-criticism-for-crime-nupl/): The recent statements from the DILG foreshadow more aggressive attempts to restrict public assembly ahead of the Baha sa Luneta 2.0 mobilization on November 30, where thousands are expected to gather once again to press for accountability. If the pattern holds, the State may again resort to brutality and violations of basic rights in an effort to suppress protected acts of discontent and dissent.
- [NUPL Files Habeas Corpus Petition to Free Mary Jane Veloso](https://nupl.net/nupl-files-habeas-corpus-petition-to-free-mary-jane-veloso/): This petition tests the limits of executive discretion, the authority of the courts, and the State’s own commitment to the human rights treaties it has pledged to uphold. The writ of habeas corpus exists precisely for circumstances like this—to provide swift and effective relief to those unlawfully restrained of their liberty and to reaffirm that no person shall be deprived of liberty without due process of law.
- [Joint Statement on the Continued Filing of Baseless Charges Against the September 21 Protesters](https://nupl.net/joint-statement-on-the-continued-filing-of-baseless-charges-against-the-september-21-protesters/): We call on the Department of Justice to immediately review and withdraw these baseless charges and to uphold the constitutional rights of the accused. We likewise urge civil society organizations, human rights groups, and the public to monitor these cases and stand in solidarity with those being persecuted for exercising their democratic freedoms.
- [Seven Years Without Justice: NUPL Honors the Life and Legacy of Atty. Ben Ramos](https://nupl.net/seven-years-without-justice-nupl-honors-the-life-and-legacy-of-atty-ben-ramos/): Justice for Atty. Ben Ramos! Justice for all victims of extrajudicial killings! Stop the attacks on people’s lawyers and human rights defenders!
- [Court of Appeals: No Legal Basis for Civil Forfeiture Against Frenchie Mae Cumpio and Marielle Domequil](https://nupl.net/court-of-appeals-no-legal-basis-for-civil-forfeiture-against-frenchie-mae-cumpio-and-marielle-domequil/): The Court’s decision is a clear rebuke of the misuse of counterterrorism laws to suppress activism, journalism, and humanitarian work. It affirms that defending human rights and reporting the truth are not crimes.
- [NUPL Condemns New Sedition and Rebellion Charges as Part of the State’s Escalating Criminalization of Dissent](https://nupl.net/nupl-condemns-new-sedition-and-rebellion-charges-as-part-of-the-states-escalating-criminalization-of-dissent/): We call on the Department of Justice to immediately dismiss these fabricated and baseless complaints, and on the public, especially members of the legal profession, to resist the normalization of repression and defend the right to dissent.
- [NUPL Stands with NLG: Stop the Attacks on Lawyers Defending Palestine](https://nupl.net/nupl-stands-with-nlg-stop-the-attacks-on-lawyers-defending-palestine/): NUPL stands firmly with our comrades at the NLG and all people’s lawyers who have relentlessly and steadfastly worked for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms amid violence, intimidation, and harassment. Stop the attacks!
- [COMMUNIQUÉ](https://nupl.net/communique/): The 7th National Congress closed with a collective reaffirmation of NUPL’s founding principles: that the law must serve the people, and that people’s lawyering is both profession and protest, calling and commitment. The NUPL leaves Cebu with renewed strength and unity, ready to carry forward its mission to defend rights, fight for justice, and hold power to account.
- [Seven Congresses Strong: Advancing People’s Lawyering for Rights, Justice, and Accountability](https://nupl.net/seven-congresses-strong-advancing-peoples-lawyering-for-rights-justice-and-accountability/): As the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers gathers for its Seventh Congress, this work takes on a renewed urgency. From the defense of those arrested on September 21, to legal challenges against repression and corruption, to the pursuit of justice in international tribunals — the struggle continues. Seven Congresses strong, we carry forward this mandate: to use the law to challenge the status quo, confront power, and serve the people. 
- [Solidarity Message of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers on the Occasion of the 20th Founding Anniversary and 9th Congress of the Union of Peoples’ Lawyers in Mindanao (UPLM](https://nupl.net/solidarity-message-of-the-national-union-of-peoples-lawyers-on-the-occasion-of-the-20th-founding-anniversary-and-9th-congress-of-the-union-of-peoples-lawyers-in-mindanao-uplm/): The Call of Our Times   Comrades, friends, and colleagues, we are facing difficult times. The repression is relentless. The threats are palpable and real.  But the call of our times is clear: to continue, to stand firm, and to multiply the ranks of people’s lawyers who will not flinch in the face of fear.
- [On the IBP “Golden Pillar Award” to Rodrigo Roa Duterte: Unbelievable. What a disgrace. No one else could be so undeserving.](https://nupl.net/on-the-ibp-golden-pillar-award-to-rodrigo-roa-duterte-unbelievable-what-a-disgrace-no-one-else-could-be-so-undeserving/): And to mindlessly gloss over that this award was given automatically for mere length of years as a lawyer is to bestow it to even those who make a mockery of the lofty IBP ideals of no master but law, no goal but justice, and no guide but conscience.
- [On the maltreatment of detainees: the police deny, but the evidence speaks](https://nupl.net/on-the-maltreatment-of-detainees-the-police-deny-but-the-evidence-speaks/): We reiterate our call for the immediate release of all those unlawfully arrested on September 21, for urgent medical treatment of those injured, and for a full, independent inquiry into the acts of torture, cruel treatment, and arbitrary detention committed under police custody.
- [One law for the poor, another for the powerful](https://nupl.net/one-law-for-the-poor-another-for-the-powerful/): It is not disorder or damage to property that most endangers society, but the daily violence of hunger, corruption, and repression. It is the poor who are punished swiftly and harshly, while those truly responsible for the country’s decay are shielded from accountability.
- [NUPL welcomes release of some, demands freedom for all September 21 arrestees](https://nupl.net/nupl-welcomes-release-of-some-demands-freedom-for-all-september-21-arrestees/): The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) received confirmation that those arrested during the September 21, 2025 protests—who only underwent inquest proceedings yesterday before Fiscal Lester Jay Allan Flores II—have been ordered released by the Office of the City Prosecutor, Manila.
- [Stop the cruelty: free the children detained after the September 21 protests](https://nupl.net/stop-the-cruelty-free-the-children-detained-after-the-september-21-protests/): To punish children for protest or poverty while sparing the powerful who plunder and abuse is the gravest injustice. The State’s duty is not to break the young with fear but to uphold their dignity and rights.
- [Lawyers call for accountability for widespread rights violations and police brutality in September 21 mass arrests](https://nupl.net/lawyers-call-for-accountability-for-widespread-rights-violations-and-police-brutality-in-september-21-mass-arrests/): On September 22, 2025, thirteen lawyers from the National Union of Peoples Lawyers (NUPL), Public Interest Law Center (PILC), Sentro para sa Tunay na Repromang Agraryo (SENTRA), and Pro Labor Assistance Center (PLACE) jointly responded to the ongoing detention of individuals arrested during the September 21 mobilizations.
- [Martial Law at 53: Afterlives of Impunity and the Continuity of Resistance](https://nupl.net/martial-law-at-53-afterlives-of-impunity-and-the-continuity-of-resistance/): History has come full circle, but so has the people’s resistance. On this anniversary of Martial Law, we call on all Filipinos to remember not only the horrors of the past but the dangers of their repetition. Dictatorship thrives when fear silences dissent; democracy lives when people collectively defy state oppression.
- [NUPL joins calls for justice for Palawan lawyer Atty. Joshua Abrina](https://nupl.net/the-national-union-of-peoples-lawyers-nupl-condemns-the-brutal-murder-of-atty-joshua-lavega-abrina/): The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) condemns the brutal murder of Atty. Joshua Lavega Abrina in Puerto Princesa City, who was gunned down outside his home on September 17, 2025.
- [People’s Lawyer Recognized: NUPL Congratulates Atty. Krissy Conti, TOWNS 2025 Awardee](https://nupl.net/peoples-lawyer-recognized-nupl-congratulates-atty-krissy-conti-towns-2025-awardee/): The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) warmly congratulates our colleague, Atty. Maria Kristina “Krissy” Conti, Secretary General of NUPL–NCR, for being recognized as one of the awardees of The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS) for 2025 in the category Human Rights for All.
- [Beyond the Bar, Toward Accountability: A Call to People’s Lawyering](https://nupl.net/beyond-the-bar-toward-accountability-a-call-to-peoples-lawyering/): The road of people’s lawyering has always been more difficult, precisely because it resists the temptations of privilege. But it is the path most faithful with the Constitution’s promise that public office is a public trust, and with the fundamental principle that accountability is owed to the people.
- [JUSTICE FOR WILLEM GEERTMAN](https://nupl.net/justice-for-willem-geertman/): Today, private complainant Aurora Santiago filed a Motion for Leave to File Motion for Reconsideration and the Motion for Reconsideration itself before the Supreme Court, challenging the acquittal of Marvin Nuguid in the case of the extrajudicial killing (EJK) of Dutch missionary Wilhelmus "Willem" Geertman.
- [Beyond the Bar: A Send-Off to Future Lawyers](https://nupl.net/beyond-the-bar-a-send-off-to-future-lawyers/): To the brave souls about to enter the halls of bar testing centers, we salute you. The days ahead will be long, but they will also mark the threshold of your becoming officers of the court and, and, more than that, lawyers who must decide whose side of history you will stand on.
- [Call to withdraw from “counter-terrorism” summit in Israel amid genocide in Gaza](https://nupl.net/call-to-withdraw-from-counter-terrorism-summit-in-israel-amid-genocide-in-gaza/): For decades, Israeli universities have been complicit in Israel’s regime of military occupation, settler-colonialism, apartheid, and now genocide. In recent months, dozens of universities have ended or pledged to end ties with complicit Israeli universities. Pisa and Tilburg universities, along with Sciences Po Strasbourg, have already cut ties with Reichman University.
- [IHL as cover: Marcos Jr. government masks systematic atrocities behind “leadership” claim](https://nupl.net/ihl-as-cover-marcos-jr-government-masks-systematic-atrocities-behind-leadership-claim/): Genuine adherence to IHL cannot be achieved by hollow speeches and summits, but the immediate cessation of attacks on protected persons, the dismantling of policies like NAP-UPD that institutionalize these abuses, and the prosecution of state forces and senior officials responsible for them
- [Makabayan lawmakers and mass leaders ask Supreme Court to reconsider ruling on Vice President Duterte impeachment case](https://nupl.net/makabayan-lawmakers-and-mass-leaders-ask-supreme-court-to-reconsider-ruling-on-vice-president-duterte-impeachment-case/): The Joint Motion for Reconsideration prays that the Supreme Court dismiss the consolidated petitions and affirm the validity of the transmittal of the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate so that trial may proceed forthwith.
- [NUPL condemns attempted killing of UPLM paralegal Warren Cahayag](https://nupl.net/nupl-condemns-attempted-killing-of-uplm-paralegal-warren-cahayag/): We call for a thorough, impartial, and credible inquiry into the attack on Cahayag. This must go beyond identifying the direct perpetrators and must examine the broader political architecture, including the chain of command and potential involvement of the state. Anything less would not only fall short of justice but would further legitimize the machinery of impunity. 
- [Impeachment interrupted: Supreme Court departs from Constitution in Duterte v. House of Representatives](https://nupl.net/impeachment-interrupted-supreme-court-departs-from-constitution-in-duterte-v-house-of-representatives/): We reiterate, with due respect to the Honorable Court: constitutional powers must be preserved, especially in the service of accountability. When these powers are subordinated to procedural interpretations that strain the Constitution’s plain meaning, it is not merely institutional balance that suffers—it is the public’s right to demand responsibility from those who wield power in their name. The people will remember what was lost in the process: a clear invocation of the people’s right to hold even the highest officials to account.
- [Filipino human rights lawyer Edre Olalia elected as President of the International Association of Democratic Lawyers](https://nupl.net/filipino-human-rights-lawyer-edre-olalia-elected-as-president-of-the-international-association-of-democratic-lawyers/): Since its founding, the IADL has been at the forefront of international legal resistance against fascism, U.S. imperialism, Zionism, apartheid, neo-colonialism, and neoliberal globalization. It continues to uphold the rights of peoples to self-determination, peace with justice and dignity, and the rule of law grounded in international solidarity.
- [Law as Weapon: Five Years of Repression Under the ATA and TFPSA](https://nupl.net/law-as-weapon-five-years-of-repression-under-the-ata-and-tfpsa/): The NUPL renews its call for the immediate repeal of these laws. Their continued enforcement safeguards not security, but legitimizes state repression. As long as these laws exist, rights defenders, activists, journalists, and humanitarian workers will remain at risk—not because they have broken the law, but because they challenge the conditions of injustice that the law now seeks to protect.
- [STOP THE HARASSMENT OF BLOODY SUNDAY VICTIMS’ FAMILIES! HANDS OFF OUR CLIENTS!](https://nupl.net/stop-the-harassment-of-bloody-sunday-victims-families-hands-off-our-clients/): NUPL issues this final warning to all concerned AFP and PNP personnel: immediately cease and desist from any contact or communication with our clients, without the knowledge of their lawyers and their express consent.
- [NUPL calls on Philippine government to adopt and fulfill obligations under new Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer](https://nupl.net/nupl-calls-on-philippine-government-to-adopt-and-fulfill-obligations-under-new-convention-for-the-protection-of-the-profession-of-lawyer/): “Let this Convention not only protect those within Europe, but set a global standard that reaches lawyers in every corner of the world, including ours. We call on the international legal community to remain steadfast in standing with lawyers at risk.” 
- [NUPL demands accountability for nefarious, bounty-driven and unlawful detention of 81 year old Prudencio Calubid Jr.](https://nupl.net/nupl-demands-accountability-for-nefarious-bounty-driven-and-unlawful-detention-of-81-year-old-prudencio-calubid-jr/): Today, NUPL, acting as counsel in the habeas corpus case filed by his daughter Analyn Calubid, received the decision of the Sixteenth Division of the Court of Appeals granting the privilege of the writ and ordering his immediate release.
- [NUPL denounces unlawful US aggression against Iran](https://nupl.net/nupl-denounces-unlawful-us-aggression-against-iran/): The NUPL stands in solidarity with the peoples of Iran and all those committed to genuine peace grounded in sovereignty, human rights, and international law. The world cannot afford yet another war invoked in the name of security, but in truth serving imperial interests.
- [NUPL to UN expert: In the Philippines, FATF’s so-called ‘unintended consequences’ are fully intended](https://nupl.net/nupl-to-un-expert-in-the-philippines-fatfs-so-called-unintended-consequences-are-fully-intended/): “For years, the FATF has spoken of ‘unintended consequences’ when its standards are abused. But in the Philippines, these consequences are not unintended — they are deliberate. The global counterterrorism framework is being systematically exploited to silence dissent,” 
- [Rights defenders denounce weaponization of counterterrorism laws targeting church and civil society groups in new complaint to UN expert](https://nupl.net/rights-defenders-denounce-weaponization-of-counterterrorism-laws-targeting-church-and-civil-society-groups-in-new-complaint-to-un-expert/): The Philippine UPR Watch urged the Special Rapporteur to initiate an urgent inquiry into the systemic abuse of counterterrorism measures in the Philippines, and called on the international community to demand immediate safeguards to protect the fundamental rights of the Filipino people. 
- [Special Rapporteur Irene Khan’s report exposes the legal architecture of repression](https://nupl.net/special-rapporteur-irene-khans-report-exposes-the-legal-architecture-of-repression/): The Special Rapporteur’s report compels urgent legal and institutional measures to dismantle the structures of impunity that continue to subvert the rule of law. The Philippine government now faces a decisive choice: to maintain a legal order that instrumentalizes law as a tool of repression, or to finally fulfill its obligation to uphold democratic accountability and human rights. 
- [No safe haven: ICC must reject Duterte’s bid for interim release](https://nupl.net/no-safe-haven-icc-must-reject-dutertes-bid-for-interim-release/): Humanitarian considerations must also not eclipse the demands of justice, especially in cases involving crimes against humanity. Age and health, while relevant, cannot outweigh the rights of victims to see the process of justice carried to its end. 
- [On US sanctions against ICC, Philippine Senate maneuvers - Judicial independence, fair trial core to victims’ right to truth](https://nupl.net/on-us-sanctions-against-icc-philippine-senate-maneuvers-judicial-independence-fair-trial-core-to-victims-right-to-truth/): Issues of judicial independence also loom over the Senate, There, the Dutertes are benefiting from a wide berth in their political influence, wrongly and unlawfully, to delay or even to kill the trial. They should not emboldened to do the same hullaballoo at the ICC.
- [As victims await specific instructions to participate in Duterte case - Issue of jurisdiction should not delay proceedings on the merits](https://nupl.net/as-victims-await-specific-instructions-to-participate-in-duterte-case-issue-of-jurisdiction-should-not-delay-proceedings-on-the-merits/): Initial victims’ applications, and consequently the appointment of common legal representative/s, are expected to occur within one to two months before the target of August 3, 2025. In the meantime, victims’ views and concerns will be carried by the Office of the Public Counsel for Victims.
- [System error or systematic fraud? Time for a manual recount](https://nupl.net/system-error-or-systematic-fraud-time-for-a-manual-recount/): When trust in the system breaks down, transparency must take its place. The people have the right to know their votes were counted truthfully. Without credibility, there is no legitimacy.
- [On the National Action Plan for Unity, Peace and Development (NAP-UPD): doubling down on a failed policy of repression](https://nupl.net/on-the-national-action-plan-for-unity-peace-and-development-nap-upd-doubling-down-on-a-failed-policy-of-repression/): Until political power is democratized, land and wealth redistributed, national sovereignty asserted, and social justice realized, no policy—however artfully worded—will deliver peace. A whole-of-nation approach cannot dismantle a system that breeds resistance while preserving the very conditions that make such resistance necessary.
- [NUPL, youth advocates file petition to cancel Duterte Youth’s registration over red-tagging, election offenses](https://nupl.net/nupl-youth-advocates-file-petition-to-cancel-duterte-youths-registration-over-red-tagging-election-offenses/): “We challenge the COMELEC to uphold the sanctity of elections and ensure that impunity does not fester within the very institutions meant to protect the people’s will,” 
- [Examining Duterte’s defenses before the ICC](https://nupl.net/examining-dutertes-defenses-before-the-icc/): By the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers — Panay Chapter7 May 2025 (PANINDUGAN) ILOILO City — On 1 May 2025, defense lawyers for Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently detained in The Netherlands for crimes against humanity, filed a submission with Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC) challenging the ICC’s exercise of jurisdiction over the case and asking the Court to nullify the proceedings and to release the former president. This is a jurisdictional challenge brought under Article 19 of the Rome Statute, as opposed to an Article 18(2) admissibility challenge on the ground of complementarity under Article 17. […]
- [Panimulang panuntunan sa pagpapatalâ ng mga biktima : Natatangi ang partisipasyon ng mga biktima sa kaso ni Duterte sa ICC](https://nupl.net/panimulang-panuntunan-sa-pagpapatala-ng-mga-biktima-natatangi-ang-partisipasyon-ng-mga-biktima-sa-kaso-ni-duterte-sa-icc/): Inilabas na ng Pre-Trial Chamber I ng International Criminal Court (ICC) ang panimulang panuntunan sa pagpapatalâ ng mga biktima sa kaso laban sa dating Presidente Rodrigo Duterte.
- [On Jeffrey Celiz’s asylum bid: there is no refuge from accountability](https://nupl.net/on-jeffrey-celizs-asylum-bid-there-is-no-refuge-from-accountability/): There must be no sanctuary for lies and no refuge from accountability.
- [Habeas corpus petition filed to free elderly man illegally detained after being falsely presented as long-missing NDFP consultant  ](https://nupl.net/habeas-corpus-petition-filed-to-free-elderly-man-illegally-detained-after-being-falsely-presented-as-long-missing-ndfp-consultant/):  A petition for habeas corpus was filed today at the Court of Appeals seeking the immediate release of 81-year-old Prudencio Cebu Calubid Jr., who remains in detention despite clear evidence that he is not the person named in an arrest warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Manila.
- [In defense of truth and people’s lawyering: hands off Atty. Conti](https://nupl.net/in-defense-of-truth-and-peoples-lawyering-hands-off-atty-conti/): We stand with Atty. Conti as she dares to hold power to account at a time when truth itself is under siege. In standing with her, we take our place alongside those who choose to keep the law rooted where it belongs—in the struggle for justice.
- [Victims of Duterte’s drug war and their lawyer fight back against online abuse](https://nupl.net/victims-of-dutertes-drug-war-and-their-lawyer-fight-back-against-online-abuse/): We call on fellow human rights defenders and the public to stand with us and report online abuse. Speak up and stay vigilant!
- [NUPL-NCR Secretary General Atty. Krissy Conti: A People’s Lawyer Among Women of Power](https://nupl.net/nupl-ncr-secretary-general-atty-krissy-conti-a-peoples-lawyer-among-women-of-power/): She has not wavered amid relentless red-tagging, misogynist vitriol, and coordinated efforts to discredit her and the cause she serves.
- [NUPL condemns the killing of Atty. Junisa Kimamao and the attempted assassination of Atty. Ibhrahim Pendatu](https://nupl.net/nupl-condemns-the-killing-of-atty-junisa-kimamao-and-the-attempted-assassination-of-atty-ibhrahim-pendatu/): Failure to act decisively will not only perpetuate impunity but also undermine public confidence in the justice system and further imperil the independence of the legal profession and access to justice. 
- [Stop the attacks on drug war victims and their lawyers, end gender-based harassment](https://nupl.net/stop-the-attacks-on-drug-war-victims-and-their-lawyers-end-gender-based-harassment/): We will not be silenced. We stand with Atty. Krissy Conti, the victims, and all advocates demanding accountability for Duterte’s crimes against humanity.
- [Duterte’s arrest, surrender to ICC, and first appearance at the court todaypart of due process that his victims did not enjoy](https://nupl.net/dutertes-arrest-surrender-to-icc-and-first-appearance-at-the-court-todaypart-of-due-process-that-his-victims-did-not-enjoy/): This is a unique opportunity to educate ourselves on the intricacies of due process, which victims of the “war on drugs” have barely enjoyed. 
- [Arrest of Duterte for crimes against humanity must proceed to trial forthwith](https://nupl.net/256618-2/): The arrest of Rodrigo Roa Duterte on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) is a significant step towards justice, as we step closer to a trial on crimes against humanity committed in the Philippines between November 2011 to March 2019.
- [Justice is finally catching up with Duterte ](https://nupl.net/justice-is-finally-catching-up-with-duterte/): The long-overdue arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte marks a crucial step toward justice for the countless victims of his ruthless and violent “war on drugs.” It serves as a powerful reminder that no individual, no matter how powerful—even a former president—is above accountability. 
- [NUPL urges immediate COMELEC action: red-tagging is an offense against suffrage](https://nupl.net/nupl-urges-immediate-comelec-action-red-tagging-is-an-offense-against-suffrage/): The NUPL urges the COMELEC to exercise its full authority under Resolution No. 11116 and impose immediate sanctions on officials and state actors involved in red-tagging. An independent investigation must be conducted into the use of public funds for this illegal operation, particularly the involvement of the NTF-ELCAC and its network of state-aligned groups.
- [Read the IFTD 2024 Event Report: Defending Fair Trial Rights in the Philippines](https://nupl.net/read-the-iftd-2024-event-report-defending-fair-trial-rights-in-the-philippines/): On June 14, 2024, the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) co-hosted the International Fair Trial Day (IFTD) and Ebru Timtik Award Ceremony at the University of the Philippines College of Law. This gathering brought together legal professionals, human rights advocates, and journalists from around the world to shed light on the deepening threats to fair trial rights in the Philippines. We invite you to read the official IFTD 2024 Event Report, which presents key discussions, testimonies, and findings from this landmark event. The report documents the increasing harassment of judges and lawyers, the misuse of laws to suppress dissent, […]
- [Women’s resistance continues to shape the future](https://nupl.net/womens-resistance-continues-to-shape-the-future/): This March 8, we do not simply celebrate women. We stand with them, fight alongside them, and commit to the justice they demand.
- [Memory as resistance, justice as duty](https://nupl.net/memory-as-resistance-justice-as-duty/): We will fight to finish what was started and to build the just and free society that EDSA promised but has yet to deliver. 
- [Beware NTF-ELCAC’s barefaced whitewashing](https://nupl.net/beware-ntf-elcacs-barefaced-whitewashing/): The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) once again engages in disinformation by claiming before the 77th Session of the UN Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (CESCR) that it “champions human rights, security, and peace.” Everything it has done since its creation under Executive Order No. 70, s. 2017 has been the exact opposite.
- [The Philippines’ removal from FATF’s Grey List is a pyrrhic victory](https://nupl.net/the-philippines-removal-from-fatfs-grey-list-is-a-pyrrhic-victory/): The question now is: Will the FATF take responsibility for the harm its standards have enabled, or will it continue to turn a blind eye?
- [The True Cost of Compliance: How Counterterrorism Financing Measures Are Undermining Civic Space and Fundamental Freedoms](https://nupl.net/the-true-cost-of-compliance-how-counterterrorism-financing-measures-are-undermining-civic-space-and-fundamental-freedom/): Both the FATF and the Philippine government must not only reverse course but commit to ensuring that AML/CFT measures are never again weaponized to erode democratic space, silence dissent, or punish those who fight for justice and empowerment—whether in the Philippines or anywhere in the world.
- [NUPL hails dismissal of baseless BP 880 case, calls for repeal of repressive law](https://nupl.net/nupl-hails-dismissal-of-baseless-bp-880-case-calls-for-repeal-of-repressive-law/): This victory is not just for the Makabayan candidates but for all Filipinos who uphold fundamental freedoms. 
- [Trumped-up charges from 2017 violent police dispersal dismissed](https://nupl.net/trumped-up-charges-from-2017-violent-police-dispersal-dismissed/):  “This is just one of many, but it is a reminder that we must continue resisting the criminalization of activism and standing up for the rights of the urban poor and the marginalized.”
- [NUPL urges Senate to uphold accountability in impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte](https://nupl.net/nupl-urges-senate-to-uphold-accountability-in-impeachment-trial-of-vice-president-sara-duterte/): The NUPL calls on the Filipino people to remain vigilant and engaged throughout this process. Transparency and justice are not gifts handed down by those in power—they must be fought for and demanded.
- [Activists freed after court dismisses trumped-up charges](https://nupl.net/after-nearly-six-years-in-detention-kadamay-organizer-john-griefen-arlegui-and-anakbayan-organizer-reynaldo-viernes-were-released-today/): In its ruling, the Court found that the prosecution failed to establish an unbroken chain of custody for the allegedly confiscated firearms and explosives, describing the “irregularities as clear as daylight.”
- [NUPL stands with Bayan Muna in challenging the unconstitutional budget process](https://nupl.net/nupl-stands-with-bayan-muna-in-challenging-the-unconstitutional-budget-process/): The NUPL strongly supports this case and the broader campaign of Bayan Muna to uphold transparency and public accountability. At a time when ordinary Filipinos are struggling with poverty and inadequate public services, public funds must be used for genuine development, not for opaque and discretionary spending.
- [Joint Statement by the International Legal and Human Rights Community on the Actions Against the Istanbul Bar Association](https://nupl.net/joint-statement-by-the-international-legal-and-human-rights-community-on-the-actions-against-the-istanbul-bar-association/): The international legal and human rights community is deeply concerned by prosecuting authorities’ recent criminal investigation and lawsuit against the Istanbul Bar Association, particularly its President, İbrahim Kaboğlu, and the executive board.
- [Congratulations to people’s lawyers Atty. Neri Colmenares and Atty. Carlos Isagani Zarate for receiving the IBP President’s Awards](https://nupl.net/congratulations-to-peoples-lawyers-atty-neri-colmenares-and-atty-carlos-isagani-zarate-for-receiving-the-ibp-presidents-awards/): Your dedication continues to inspire people’s lawyers and human rights defenders to stand their ground and carry on the fight!
- [Cong. Edcel C. Lagman: A stalwart defender of rights and liberties](https://nupl.net/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.
- [Walk the talk, Mr. President : Show justice with action, not empty rhetoric](https://nupl.net/walk-the-talk-mr-president-show-justice-with-action-not-empty-rhetoric/): Speeches filled with rhetoric about the Constitution and the rule of law are not enough. If this administration is sincere about justice reaching the margins, it must demonstrate that sincerity by ceasing the systematic harassment of human rights defenders, ending the red-tagging of lawyers and activists, and addressing the socio-economic issues that continue to oppress the underprivileged. Without these actions, the President’s words will remain little more than political theater, far removed from the reality of the people he claims to serve.
- [COOPERATION WITH ICC BY PH GOVERNMENT IS JUST AND LEGAL: Both Marcoses and Dutertes accountable for extra-judicial killings](https://nupl.net/cooperation-with-icc-by-ph-government-is-just-and-legal-both-marcoses-and-dutertes-accountable-for-extra-judicial-killings/): “Its withdrawal shall not affect any cooperation with the Court in connection with criminal investigations and proceedings in relation to which the withdrawing State had a duty to cooperate and which were commenced prior to the date on which the withdrawal became effective, nor shall it prejudice in any way the continued consideration of any matter which was already under consideration by the Court prior to the date on which the withdrawal became effective.”
- [On BuCor’s reformation and livelihood projects for women PDLs like Mary Jane Veloso](https://nupl.net/on-bucors-reformation-and-livelihood-projects-for-women-pdls-like-mary-jane-veloso/): We welcome BuCor’s initiative to improve the conditions of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) through livelihood programs, such as Project ARTE, and their recognition of Mary Jane Veloso’s skills and potential to contribute to such efforts.
- [On the counter-terrorism SOP: beneath the glossy façade are deeper cracks](https://nupl.net/on-the-counter-terrorism-sop-beneath-the-glossy-facade-are-deeper-cracks/): True “progress” demands more than performative compliance or empty gestures of reform.
- [NUPL condemns DOJ's weaponization of terror laws to meet FATF quotas](https://nupl.net/nupl-condemns-dojs-weaponization-of-terror-laws-to-meet-fatf-quotas/): We call on the DOJ and related agencies to end the initiation of baseless terrorism financing cases and to stop all forms of threats, harassment, or intimidation against victims of trumped-up charges and their witnesses. 
- [OPEN LETTER TO THE FATF ON THE SYSTEMIC HARMS OF FATF POLICIES ON PHILIPPINE CIVIL SOCIETY](https://nupl.net/open-letter-to-the-fatf/): The FATF must ensure that its standards do not come at the expense of democracy, civic freedoms, and human rights. We urge you to reflect on their real-world consequences and act decisively to prevent further harm. 
- [NUPL defends Makabayan leaders against politically motivated BP 880 charges](https://nupl.net/nupl-defends-makabayan-leaders-against-politically-motivated-bp-880-charges/): Today, the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) assisted Makabayan senatorial candidates Liza Maza, Jerome Adonis, Modesto Floranda, Amirah Lidasan, and Eufemia Doringo in filing their counter-affidavits against trumped-up charges of violations of Batas Pambansa Blg. 880 or the Public Assembly Act with the Office of the City Prosecutor of Manila. We strongly condemn the filing of these charges against our clients for their participation in the Bonifacio Day rally on November 30, 2024, in Mendiola, Manila. This brazen act is yet another alarming attempt to weaponize repressive laws against legitimate dissent and undermine the people’s fundamental freedoms. BP 880, […]
- [Join the IBP NCLA-NUPL Online Synchronous MCLE Seminar!](https://nupl.net/ncla-nupl-mcle/): When: February 5–8, 2025 Where: Online (Synchronous Format) Why Join? Fulfill the 36-unit MCLE requirement with engaging topics such as: Trial Techniques and Forensic Evidence; Data and Artificial Intelligence in Human Rights Practice; Updates on Legal Ethics, Labor Law, and Environmental Law; and Human Rights Advocacy Specialized Content: Tailored for lawyers committed to justice, human rights, and staying ahead in the latest legal developments. Rates: Regular Rate: ₱7,000.00 Senior Citizens & PWDs: ₱6,500.00 Per Session: ₱2,000.00 REGISTER NOW: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1RTGyjQpFTkILDfCvz2QRkkgqMeVFs2-S2hyMOrfNhAU/viewform?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1QtiBUhQns563C2dzqgmFHgNNB9KimnKX1tmodszXK5MQsM_TPdzpAUeQ_aem_wfM5IPVp87TOoutW7ZgJMw&edit_requested=true Deadline: February 3, 2025, at 5:00 PM Questions? Email us at nupl2007@gmail.com. Check the full program below!
- [NUPL condemns grievous disinformation and affront to political prisoners’ rights in reported BJMP memorandum](https://nupl.net/nupl-condemns-grievous-disinformation-and-affront-to-political-prisoners-rights-in-reported-bjmp-memorandum/): The National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) strongly condemns a memorandum reportedly issued by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) directing jail wardens to impose “close monitoring” measures on persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) suspected of being members of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) or its allied organizations. While its issuance has not been officially confirmed, the reported contents of the memorandum, dated January 10, 2025, suggest draconian measures including the surveillance and review of “all correspondence, visitor interactions, and external communications” of detainees, along with so-called “behavioral monitoring” to assess security risks and stringent visitor […]
- [On Mary Jane’s 40th, Give Her the Gift of Freedom](https://nupl.net/on-mary-janes-40th-give-her-the-gift-of-freedom/): All Photos: Courtesy of Kodao Productions Today, the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) greets Mary Jane Veloso on her 40th birthday, a milestone in a life marked by 14 years of profound injustice and unimaginable resilience. Mary Jane’s journey stands as both a testament to her strength and a searing indictment of the systemic failures that led to her plight. Mary Jane was duped into unknowingly transporting illegal drugs and sentenced to death in Indonesia. For nearly a decade and a half, she lived under the shadow of execution—separated from her family and forced to bear the consequences of […]
- [On the SC decision strengthening safeguards against unlawful searches](https://nupl.net/on-the-sc-decision-strengthening-safeguards-against-unlawful-searches/): The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) welcomes the Supreme Court’s firm reiteration in People v. Lucky Enriquez that search warrants must clearly and specifically identify the locations to be searched, as mandated by the Constitution. This decision is an affirmation of the fundamental rights of the people to be protected against unlawful searches and seizures.
- [A Year of Struggle and Resolve](https://nupl.net/a-year-of-struggle-and-resolve/): To the Filipino people, NUPL calls for vigilance, action, and collective resolve. Together, we can ensure that the narrative of justice remains alive.
- [Pagbati mula sa National Union of Peoples' Lawyers](https://nupl.net/pagbati-mula-sa-national-union-of-peoples-lawyers/): Serve the People! #BeTheBestLawyersMoneyCannotBuy #JLoBar2024
- [CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL BAR PASSERS!](https://nupl.net/congratulations-to-all-bar-passers/): May you choose to use your skills and knowledge to uphold the mantle of justice with compassion, bravery, and a sense of duty. May this path lead you to stand in the frontlines with us, together with the Filipino people. 
- [On International Human Rights Day 2024: Onward in the fight for accountability and the triumph of justice](https://nupl.net/on-international-human-rights-day-2024-onward-in-the-fight-for-accountability-and-the-triumph-of-justice/): On International Human Rights Day 2024: Onward in the fight for accountability and the triumph of justice
- [NUPL commends IBP’s landmark initiative and honors first Human Rights Awardees](https://nupl.net/nupl-commends-ibps-landmark-initiative-and-honors-first-human-rights-awardees/): To Atty. Olalia, Atty. Lora, and Atty. Azarcon: your work stands as a powerful testament to what can be achieved when justice is pursued in service of the people. May your dedication inspire more lawyers, especially the next generation, to take up the mantle of defending the poor and the oppressed and championing justice.
- [NUPL stands with Jhed Tamano and Jonila Castro in their pursuit of justice](https://nupl.net/nupl-stands-with-jhed-tamano-and-jonila-castro-in-their-pursuit-of-justice/): Jonila and Jhed’s decision to pursue countercharges is not merely a step toward their personal vindication but a powerful statement against the forces that seek to silence dissent. It serves as a call for accountability and the protection of human rights defenders who continue to advocate for marginalized communities and environmental justice.
- [NUPL and CPDG expose government's playbook of repression using FATF standards in study](https://nupl.net/nupl-and-cpdg-expose-governments-playbook-of-repression-using-fatf-standards-in-study/): In the name of complying with FATF standards, the Philippine government is going after the wrong targets: it is our CSOs, human rights defenders, development workers, and grassroots communities who bear the brunt of this repression.
- [Families of Bloody Sunday victims seek justice and accountability before UN Human Rights Committee](https://nupl.net/families-of-bloody-sunday-victims-seek-justice-and-accountability-before-un-human-rights-committee/): “The insistence on treating these deaths as operational successes is a deeply alarming signal from the State. It conveys to all members of the security forces that they can kill unarmed civilians and be rewarded. This is nothing less than State-sanctioned violence.”
- [Honor imperatives respecting human rights and international humanitarian law under formal agreements](https://nupl.net/honor-imperatives-respecting-human-rights-and-international-humanitarian-law-under-formal-agreements/): The recent series of killings and arbitrary arrests of consultants of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) reveals more than a lack of sincerity by the Philippine government in pursuing peace. It betrays an outright disregard for both human rights and humanitarian law, and a blatant refusal to honor the commitments it has made through formal agreements. The latest victims, NDFP consultant Wigberto Villarico and his companion Marjorie Lizada, were arrested on October 24, 2024, during a joint operation by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Quezon City. Prior to this, […]
- [To Struggle for Justice is Never in Vain: NUPL at 17](https://nupl.net/to-struggle-for-justice-is-never-in-vain-nupl-at-17/): For seventeen years, we have chosen this road, and for however long it takes, we will continue to tread it because we know, as our clients do, that to struggle for justice is never in vain.
- [Facebook removes NUPL post again](https://nupl.net/facebook-removes-nupl-post-again/): The takedowns may seem arbitrary, but they can be seen as part of a larger pattern where activism, advocacy and dissent are disproportionately affected by social media moderation.
- [Message to the 2024 Bar Examinees](https://nupl.net/message-to-the-2024-bar-examinees/): Soon, you will be part of a profession that plays an indispensable role in defending the truth and attaining justice. We urge you to look beyond personal ambition and financial success, and to keep in mind the ever-present need for lawyers in advancing a just and humane society.
- [NUPL reiterates call to repeal anti-terror laws amid continuing dismissal of fabricated charges](https://nupl.net/nupl-reiterates-call-to-repeal-anti-terror-laws-amid-continuing-dismissal-of-fabricated-charges/): The government’s ambition to exit the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) gray list or meet arbitrary prosecution quotas cannot, and must not, serve as a justification for the harassment and criminalization of activists and rights defenders. These are people who take the blows so that others may live with dignity. To brand them as terrorists is a grotesque distortion of truth. 

## Pages

- [News](https://nupl.net/news/)
- [Resources](https://nupl.net/resources/)
- [Our Work](https://nupl.net/our-work/)
- [About Us](https://nupl.net/about-us/)
- [Home](https://nupl.net/)


[comment]: # (Generated by Hostinger Tools Plugin)