THE National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) on Monday condemned the arrest of five paralegals during a rally against the Pax Silica project in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig last Sept. 10.
In a statement posted on Facebook, the group said that even their supervising lawyer was even threatened during the rally.
“The arrests were an attack not only on members of a legal team, but on the right of detained persons to prompt and effective legal assistance,” NUPL President Ephraim Cortez said.
According to the NUPL, the paralegals were deployed at the protest to “monitor and document possible rights violations, record arrests and detention, obtain detainees’ initial narratives, assist with bail requirements, and attend to their immediate needs."
Three paralegals were arrested and brought to a Taguig police station, it said.
“A quick response team composed of two other paralegals and their supervising NUPL lawyer proceeded to the station and asked to see the detainees pursuant to constitutional guarantees and Republic Act No. 7438,” the NUPL said.
Cortez said paralegals and lawyers cannot be arrested for merely doing their work.
“The police must be held accountable for obstructing legal assistance and intimidating those who provide it,” Cortez said.
