Supreme Court eyes review of procedure for writ of amparo amid killings

The Supreme Court (SC) may review the procedure for the extraordinary remedy of the writ of amparo, an official said Thursday.

"Siguro ang pwede po nating gawin ay we will review the procedure for the writ of amparo and we will see how we can strengthen the writ of amparo to, in effect, strengthen those who come before the courts," Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez said at House deliberations on the judiciary's budget for 2021.

He made the statement in response to Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate, who had asked whether the judiciary has considered modifying the rules for the writ of amparo in light of recent killings, particularly of human rights worker Zara Alvarez.

Alvarez was one of the human rights advocates who went to court seeking protection from threats and harassment allegedly by state forces. The SC issued the writ of amparo and referred the case to the Court of Appeals (CA), which eventually denied the petition.

The human rights workers have returned to the SC to challenge the CA decision.

Alvarez was shot dead in Bacolod City last August 17. She was killed one week after another activist, Randall Echanis, was found dead with several stab wounds in Quezon City.

The petition for the writ of amparo is available to persons whose right to life, liberty, and security are being threatened or violated by public officials or employees or private individuals or entities.

The writ covers extralegal killings and enforced disappearances, or threats thereof.

The SC approved the rule for the writ of amparo in 2007.

Marquez said Thursday that the courts also rely on other government agencies to enforce court orders.

"Siguro on that angle ay titingnan din po natin how our courts, with the help of the other government agencies, can really and truly enforce court orders," he told lawmakers.

Marquez said he is certain that Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta will welcome the review of the procedure for filing petitions for the writ of amparo.—AOL, GMA News