Slain human rights lawyer received death threats —NUPL

The National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL) on Sunday confirmed that slain human rights lawyer Benjamin Ramos, a founding member of the group, had received several death threats.

NUPL's Atty. Josa Deinla told Super Radyo dzBB, “Yung takot dahil sa death threats ay mayroon…Mayroon siyang limitasyon sa paggalaw.”

“Sinasabi niya sa amin na pasensya na kayo kung merong kasong hindi ko mapupuntahan, o hindi matulungan yung ibang kliyente sapagkat meron siyang pangamba sa kanyang buhay,” she added.

NUPL's initial investigation shows that on his way home last November 6, Ramos dropped by a store and stayed a while to smoke a stick of cigarette. A man on a motorcycle suddenly came and shot him.

Ramos was rushed to the hospital, but did not make it.

“Kami ay naniniwala ito ay kaso ng paglabag sa karapatang pantao, sapagkat bago pa mangyari ang pagpatay ay nakaranas na siya ng vilification, red tagging,” Deinla said.

According to  Deinla, the NUPL cannot tell in particular if an individual, or a military or police unit was behind the murder of Ramos, because it's too early yet into their investigation.

Citing an initial police report that linked  Ramos' murder to his alleged gambling activities, Deinla said, “Alam naman natin ang ating mga pulis, bago pa ma-conclude ang kanilang imbestigasyon, gaya noong sa Sagay massavre, ay nagbibigay sila agad ng pahayag hindi pa nila ito sinasaliksik ng masusi.”

Deinla and the NUPL believe that the murder of Ramos was related to his job as people’s lawyer.

“Aming pinanghahawakan, sa dami ng mabibigat na mga tao, makapangyarihan, sa pader na kanyang nabangga habang siya'y nagtratrabaho bilang people's lawyer, ay tiyak kami na may kinalaman ang pagpatay sa kanyang propesyon,” Deinla said.

Among the NUPL's  clients are the families of the nine victims of the October 20 Sagay, Negros Occidental massacre. —Joviland Rita/LBG, GMA News