Two luminaries of the legal profession have attached their names to a statement issued on November 27 by the Concerned Lawyers for Civil Liberties strongly condemning and protesting the “baseless and unfounded attacks” against lawyers and other human rights defenders.

“The incessant harassment and threats towards our colleagues, trumped-up charges against dissenters, and unsolved extra-judicial killings [are] an attack against civil liberties and constitutional rights of the people,” says the CLCL statement.

It bears the names of two of its co-convenors: Pacifico Agabin and Rene Saguisag Sr. A highly respected constitutionalist, Agabin was dean of the UP College of Law; many of those in the frontlines today were taught by him. Former senator Saguisag has been a stalwart human rights lawyer since the days of ardent struggle against the Marcos dictatorship.

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