Rights lawyers welcome enforced disappearance bill with guarded optimism | Sun.Star.

October 20, 2012

HUMAN rights lawyers have challenged President Benigno Aquino III to sign and implement the proposed bill putting persons responsible for the commission of enforced disappearances accountable.

In a statement, the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) said they are hoping that the measure will not be used the police and military to escape prosecution from the crime allegedly committed by some of their members.

“We pray that beyond the elegant and formal legal language, no false hope is added to injury by State security forces who will circumvent and even mock it on the ground like other rights laws; by a judiciary perceived by the families to be at times unresponsive and even detached from social realities,” the group said.

Militants often blame the government for scores of enforced disappearances, particularly during the time of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

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