Patakaran sa writ of amparo inaprubahan ng Korte Suprema

Inaprubahan ng Supreme Court nitong Martes ang panukalang batas para sa “writ of amparo" na inaasahang magbibigay ng proteksyon sa mga biktima ng extrajudicial killings at enforced disappearances. Sinabi ni Chief Justice Reynato Puno na ang writ of amparo ay magkakabisa simula Oktubre 24. Ito ay magbibigay ng kapangyarihan sa mga korte na magpalabas ng kautusan “for protection, production and inspection to safeguard people’s life and liberty." “Today, the Supreme Court promulgated the rule that will place the constitutional right to life, liberty, and security above violation and threats of violation. This rule will provide the victims of extralegal killings and enforced disappearances the protection they need and the promise of vindication for their rights," paliwanag ni Puno. Ipinagmalaki ni Puno na mas malawak ang bersyon ng writ of amparo sa Pilipinas kumpara sa ibang bansa "because it protects not only against actual violations but also against threats of violation of rights." Idinagdag niya na maging ang mga pribadong indibidwal o grupo ay saklaw ng writ at hindi lamang mga opisyal o kawani ng gobyerno. "In Latin American countries, except Cuba, (writ) Amparo has been constitutionally adopted to protect against human rights abuses especially during the time the said countries were governed by military juntas," paliwanag ni Puno. Pinagtibay ng SC en banc ang writ of amparo dalawang buwan matapos idaos ang National Consultative Summit on Extrajudicial Killings and Enforced Disappearances. "The sovereign Filipino people should be assured that if their right to life and liberty is threatened or violated, they will find vindication in our courts of justice," dagdag ni Puno. Sa ilalim ng inaprubahang patakaran, maaaring maghain ng petisyon para sa writ of amparo anumang araw at oras sa Regional Trial Court, Sandiganbayan, Court of Appeals, at maging sa Supreme Court. Ang paghahain ng petisyon ay libre. Ang mga maaaring maghain ng petisyon: “any member of the aggrieved party’s immediate family (spouse, children, and parents); any ascendant, descendant, or collateral relative of the aggrieved party within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity; and any concerned citizen, organization, association, or institution, if there is no known member of the immediate family or relative of the aggrieved party." - Fidel Jimenez, GMANews.TV