IN an unprecedented move, lawyers’ groups and human rights advocates have banded together and agreed to coordinate and pool their resources in providing legal assistance to victims of the Nov. 23 massacre in Maguindanao.
Called the Tactical Alliance of Lawyers Against Impunity in Maguindanao (TALIM), the broad alliance consists of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Center for International Law, Bangsamoro Legal Network, National Union of People’s Lawyers, SALIGAN, Lyceum College of Law Office of Legal Aid, MABINI, Sanlakas, Protestant Lawyer’s League of the Philippines, UP Women Lawyers Circle, IBP Socsargen, IBP Davao, IBP North Cotabato, UNTV Legal, ULAMA MUSLAF (Muslim Legal Aid Foundation), Alliance for Muslim Advocates for Law (AMAL), San Beda Office of Legal Aid, UP Office of Legal Aid, Gender Justice Network and the International Association of Democratic Lawyers.
The alliance’s tasks range from obtaining death certificates, autopsy reports and gathering witnesses, to preparation of pleadings and legal documents and assigning teams of lawyers to handle cases, to drawing up budget plans and security arrangements for its pool of legal advocates.
“Our tasks are many and daunting…but we agree to face these challenges head-on,” TALIM said in a statement. “We feel that the prosecution of the numerous criminal and possible administrative and civil cases against all those involved in the Massacre is a crucial litmus test of the stability, strength, trustworthiness and credibility of our justice system.”
It added, “We make a common commitment and pledge to work together in all cases and legal proceedings on the Maguindanao Massacre, so that this kind of impunity and crime against humanity never happen again.”