SIDEBAR
Atty. Ephraim Cortez
Remembering Atty. Ben Ramos, NUPL-Negros Secretary General and NUPL founding member. He was assassinated eight years ago (Nov. 6, 2018) by suspected agents of the state.
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The opinion expressed in this post is the personal opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers.
Adamson University College of Law Legal Aid Office welcomes the acquittal of two of our Sept. 21-Baha sa Luneta Rally clients, on demurrer to evidence. This is a further confirmation that no individual should be imprisoned on the basis of nothing more than an accusation, some conjecture or entirely made up evidence.
We continue demanding accountability.
We continue defending human rights.
We continue fighting impunity.
We continue serving the people.
As long as we continue the struggle he devoted his life to, Ben will never truly be gone.
Justice for Atty. Benjamin Ramos Jr..
Justice for all victims of political killings.
Defend the defenders.
Continue the struggle.
Late last week, Pulong Duterte filed a criminal complaint for cyber libel naming several journalists among the respondents. He filed the criminal complaint in Davao City. A few days later, a Davao City court issued a warrant of arrest for cyber libel, and veteran journalist Philip Lustre was arrested.These charges appear to be fabricated and intended to intimidate journalists.
Mr. Lustre’s case exemplifies a fabricated charge and should raise concerns about the actions of both the prosecutor’s office and the court.
The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers-National Capital Region (NUPL-NCR) stands with youth activists and their fundamental right to free speech and expression. NUPL-NCR assisted youth leader Christian Mataverde on October 20, 2026 as he filed his counter-affidavit before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor of Rizal in the cyberlibel complaint brought against him by an official of the University of Rizal System (URS), Pililla Campus, for violation of Section 4(c)(4) of Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. Cyberlibel potentially carries the penalty of up to eight years in prison.
