[PODCAST] Law of Duterte Land: If justice favors the state

It’s a justice system harsh on enemies, but in favor of the state, said human rights lawyers Algamar Latiph and Neri Colmenares, both part of the Supreme Court petitions against the feared anti-terror law.

Latiph said that he has never had an experience where erring law enforcement agents that they sue get convicted, or even charged at the very least. It’s been a constant source of frustration, especially for Moros like them who have been perpetual victims of discrimination and mistaken identity.

The justice system is “inhospitable” to the battle against impunity, said Colmenares.

Now, President Rodrigo Duterte wants a law that will give free legal assistance to law enforcement agents who will be sued. It’s still part of due process, but for whom?

Listen to this episode as we unpack how the justice system, for all its good intentions of due process for all, has fueled the culture against impunity.

For past podcast episodes:

• Episode 1 Part 1: Supreme Court’s most controversial decisions
• Episode 1 Part 2: Department of Justice’s evolving definition of warrantless arrests
• Episode 2: The rule of law in the time of the coronavirus
• Episode 3: Pandemic and the great wall of free speech
• Episode 4: Will petition to disclose Duterte health work?
• Episode 5: Legal difficulties of a prisoner mass release
• Episode 6: Breaking down the ABS-CBN franchise legal and political issues
• Episode 7: ABS-CBN and the 3 tangled branches of government
• Episode 8: Are extraordinary writs still effective in the time of Duterte?
• Episode 9: Dissecting anti-terror bill and threats to freedoms
• Episode 10: The problems with the Cybercrime Law
• Episode 11: Can we trust the gov’t panel probing drug war deaths?
• Episode 12: Why press freedom is legally protected
• Episode 13: What is People’s Initiative and will it work for ABS-CBN?
• Episode 14: The new push for death penalty
• Episode 15: A State of terror
• Episode 16: GCTA’s thorn – Do bad men deserve good things?
• Episode 17: Policies beyond body count of Duterte’s drug war
• Episode 18: Can we really bring Xi Jinping to the ICC?
• Episode 19: Philippine courts and the death of baby River
• Episode 20: Deep dive into anti-terror law IRR
• Episode 21: Supreme Court and the SALN challenge
• Episode 22: Where PH stands in fight for climate justice
• Episode 23: How to legally fight red-tagging
• Episode 24: Hope for the Rule of Law with Dino de Leon
• Episode 25: Summary of anti-terror law petitions
• Episode 26: May it please the Court – the anti-terror law orals
• Episode 27: Investigating Duterte’s drug war using hard data
• Episode 28: Your Honors, they are killing lawyers
• Episode 29: Choosing who sits on the Bench
• Episode 30: Lugaw, RA 11332, and common sense policy
• Episode 31: Understanding electoral protests
• Episode 32: Captain Ri and all the president’s men
• Episode 33: The law of NTF-ELCAC
• Episode 34: Lawyering under threat
• Episode 35: Duterte’s ICC prospects
• Episode 36: Plunderers and how to get them
• Episode 37: Can Duterte run for VP?
• Episode 38: ICC hopes alive in Supreme Court ‘loss’

If you have tips and suggestions for episodes, email the host at lian.buan@rappler.com. – Rappler.com