The Summit

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor CEDELF P. TUPAS Sports Editor (On Leave) RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

A day after the controversial Human Security Act, also known as the Anti Terror Law, took effect, The Supreme Court, on the initiative of Chief Justice Reynato Puno, is spearheading a summit that aims to work on measures that will protect human rights violated by the wave of extrajudicial killings that has been one of the defining features of this administration.

The families of the victims, along with high-level officials form all three branches of government, are expected to be present during the summit, which aims to find solutions and provide input to the SC as it tries to enhance existing rules, or promulgate new ones if necessary, in the protection of constitutional rights. It also intends to examine the concept of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, aside from revisiting the rules of evidence and exploring more remedies for the aggrieved parties, aside from the writ of habeas corpus.

The executive branch, along with the military, has taken the brunt of the blame for many of the killings and disappearances. When not being blamed for their half-hearted response to the problem, these same people are being criticized by local as well as foreign groups. After the numerous pronouncements, commissions, and investigative bodies miserably failed to stop this blatant violation of a very basic human right from continuing to flourish in this country, the Filipino people gladly welcome the involvement of the Supreme Court in the fight against extrajudicial killings and disappearances.

The Supreme Court is probably the only one out of the three branches of government that is still respected and seen as credible by the people at large, one of the reasons why this summit is being seen as a genuine effort at addressing this problem.

We hope that in those two days, the National Consultative Summit on Extrajudicial Killings and Enforced Disappearances can come up with concrete results that will actually help in addressing this colossal problem, and not become just another forgettable meeting where everyone talks and nothing happens.*