Families of victims of Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs expressed outrage at the “Golden Pillar of Law Award” given to the former president by the Davao City chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP).
Members of the Rise Up for Life and for Life said it is ironic for an organization whose members swear to uphold justice and the law to honor someone who did not respect human rights nor that law but his own.
“How does someone who took pride in violence and widespread killing deserve such an award?” the group asked.
The IBP named Duterte as one of 600 nationwide recipients of the award it said only recognizes his long career as a lawyer.
Duterte spent some years of his law practice as a Davao City prosecutor but transitioned to becoming a politician since 1986.
IBP communications director Katrina Mordeno told reporters the award does not mean the IBP supports Duterte, saying: “The award was not meant to be a legal absolution or a moral endorsement.”
But indignant mothers of Duterte’s drug war victims asked if the IBP even consider the recipient is accused of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, The Netherlands.
“Have they not considered that the person they are giving a trophy to is considered as among the most abominable beings in the entire world?” Rise Up queried.
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“Kahiya-hiya! Ano ba ang batayan sa pagbibigay ng award ng IBP? Bilang ng taon ng may titulong abogado? Napakababaw kung ganoon. Ano bang naging ambag niya sa pagpapalaganap ng rule of law? Wala! Kung iyan ang batayan ng pag bibigay ng award, talagang nakakalungkot. Pagpapakita lang ito na malakas pa rin ang kanyang impluwensya.”—Dahlia Cuartero
“Binigyan ng award ang responsable sa mga pagpaslang sa aming mga anak. Ang pagbigay ng award sa dating pangulong Duterte ay katumbas ng pagkunsinti sa kanyang krimen laban sa sangkatauhan.”—Tina Pascual
“Walang konsiderasyon sa damdamin ng libo-libong pamilya na namatayan ng mahal sa buhay dahil sa war on drugs. Para sa aming pamilya ng biktima, ang award na ibinigay sa dating pangulo ay pagsang-ayon sa kanyang pahayag na “Kill, kill, kill!” Hindi mapagtatakpan ng kahit anong award ang kanyang kasalanan sa aming mga biktima. Inabuso ang kapangyarihan at posisyon na mayroon siya. Hindi namin kahit kailan papayagan ang ganyang uri ng kawalanghiyaan sa amin.”—Jane Lee
“Kagulat gulat ang ganitong balita ng parangal sa dating pangulo. Noong siya ay mayor ng Davao ay naglunsad siya ng Davao Death Squad o DDS na pasimuno ng maraming pagpaslang. Nang siya naman ay naging presidente, inilunsad niya ang Oplan Tokhang, pagpaslang sa mga tinawag niyang adik at pinaghihinalaan pa lamang na nagbebenta ng ilegal na droga. Kaya ang award na ito ay nakakahiya at insulto sa mga abogado na totoong naglilingkod ng tapat at sinasang alang-alang ang katarungan.”—Llore Pasco
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The victims’ kin said they vehemently disagree with the IBP because the honoree killed thousands without remorse.
“We consider this a blasphemy to our grief and quest for justice,” they said.
“There is no honor in a lawyer who instigated wanton violence against the people,” the group added.
Other IBP awardees ‘disgusted’
Earlier recipients of the award also announced their decision to return the trophies to the IBP in protest of Duterte’s inclusion among this year’s awardees, including “disgusted” retired judge Meinrado Paredes.
IBP’s inaugural human rights awardee for Luzon, International Association of Democratic Lawyers president and National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers chairperson Edre Olalia, said the award is a disgrace as the recipient is “most underserving.”
Olalia said naming Duterte among this year’s recipients mocks “IBP’s ideals of no master but law, no goal but justice, and no guide but conscience.”
“And to add insult to injury, the award gratuitously lionized [Duterte] for ‘distinguished and dedicated service in the legal profession, upholding the ideals of justice, integrity and the rule of law’ and his ‘unwavering commitment and invaluable contributions stand as a pillar of inspiration to the legal community.’ What incomparable irony,” Olalia exclaimed. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
