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.
January 7, 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.

PRESS STATEMENT
January 6, 2025


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.

As an organization that has handled numerous cases involving trumped-up charges of illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and explosives—cases initiated by the planting of evidence—we recognize the critical importance of strict adherence to constitutional standards in the issuance of search warrants. Precision and clarity in search warrants serve as essential safeguards against abuse, ensuring that the legal system is not weaponized to target dissenters, activists, and vulnerable communities.

This decision also brings to mind the vindication of activists Reina Mae Nasino, Ram Carlo Bautista, and Alma Moran, whose illegal possession cases were dismissed when the Court of Appeals reversed the trial court’s denial of their motions to quash the defective search warrants used against them. As the appellate court underscored, “The subject Search Warrants indicated the wrong address and with the wrong description, which resulted [in] the improper implementation.” The inconsistencies in the search warrants, including the wrong address and description of the location, led to the suppression of evidence illegally obtained from them. Their case illustrates the grave consequences of vague and erroneous search warrants and the urgent need to hold the judiciary and law enforcement to the highest standards of constitutional compliance.

We hope that this decision will be robustly implemented, setting a precedent for accountability and fostering a culture of respect for human rights within the justice system. The NUPL remains steadfast in its commitment to advocating for the rights of the marginalized and opposing all forms of legal and systemic oppression. #


Reference:
Atty. Josalee Deinla
NUPL Secretary General
+639174316396

Read more

DEFEND WOMEN’S DIGNITY, FIGHT MISOGYNY, AND RESIST ALL FORMS OF ABUSE AND OPPRESSION

DEFEND WOMEN’S DIGNITY, FIGHT MISOGYNY, AND RESIST ALL FORMS OF ABUSE AND OPPRESSION

There can be no genuine equality while women remain targets of abuse, exploitation, and contempt, and while poor and working women continue to suffer the combined violence of patriarchy and economic oppression. To defend women’s rights is to fight misogyny in all its forms, demand accountability from those who perpetuate it, and challenge the social order that keeps women vulnerable, silenced, and exploited.

NUPL seeks amparo and habeas data protection for Negros people’s lawyer and PDG members; flags continuing threats vs. Isabela people’s lawyer despite existing protective writs

NUPL seeks amparo and habeas data protection for Negros people’s lawyer and PDG members; flags continuing threats vs. Isabela people’s lawyer despite existing protective writs

NUPL urged the Supreme Court to consider safeguards that protect lawyers and litigants and keep court processes safe, including convening a dialogue on effective protective mechanisms, issuing guidance when red-tagging and guilt-by-association narratives surface in court proceedings, and adopting clear protocols for responding to credible threats against counsel.

DEFEND WOMEN’S DIGNITY, FIGHT MISOGYNY, AND RESIST ALL FORMS OF ABUSE AND OPPRESSION

EDSA at 40: The People’s Forum

The enduring significance of EDSA rests on a simple truth: public spaces belong to the people. They must remain open as platforms for public discourse—robust, uninhibited, and free from the chilling effect of threats of dispersal or prosecution under a statute born of martial rule. EDSA stands as the people’s forum when they demand accountability and seek the fulfillment of the promise of People Power.

PROSECUTION IS TRIAL-READY, ICC SHOULD CONFIRM CHARGES AGAINST DUTERTE

PROSECUTION IS TRIAL-READY, ICC SHOULD CONFIRM CHARGES AGAINST DUTERTE

The hearings this week and the eventual trial are important for all Filipinos, as a way of composing a true and correct collective memory, and preserving a historical record of what should not be repeated again. The confirmation hearing is so important that victims and their lawyers, supporters, and advocates have travelled all the way to The Hague to be present during the hearings. We remain committed to seeking truth and justice for victims and for all people.

Share This