Friday, March 27, 2015

AFP contests CA writ of habeas data but vows to protect rights lawyer, probe alleged threats

From InterAksyon (Mar 27): AFP contests CA writ of habeas data but vows to protect rights lawyer, probe alleged threats

The Armed Forces of the Philippines is contesting a writ of habeas data issued by the Court of Appeals on behalf of human rights lawyer Maria Catherine Dannug-Salucon but said it will investigate her alleged harassment by soldiers.

A statement from the AFP public affairs office also said military units have also been ordered “to ensure the life, liberty and security” of the Isabela-based Salucon “and her immediate family members.”

On March 12, the appellate court’s sixth division granted Salucon’s petition for a writ of habeas data after she alleged military and police personnel placed her under surveillance and harassed her on several occasions in March last year after she handled the cases of several persons accused of being New People’s Army members.

Aside from granting the writ, the CA also ordered the military to produce for possible destruction all information, records, photographs and dossiers related to their surveillance on the petitioner.

However, the court dismissed the cases against President Benigno Aquino III, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and resigned Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima, who were named respondents in Salucon’s petition.

The writ of habeas data is a remedy available to any person whose right to privacy, liberty or security is violated or threatened by an unlawful act or omission of a public official or employee, or of a private individual or entity engaged in the gathering, collecting or storing of data or information about the person, family, home and correspondence of the aggrieved party.

The AFP said it had filed a motion for reconsideration, through the Office of the Solicitor General, of the CA resolution granting the writ of habeas data to Salucon. 

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/107800/afp-contests-ca-writ-of-habeas-data-but-vows-to-protect-rights-lawyer-probe-alleged-threats

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.