IBP decries communist tag on three of its top lawyers
THE Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) deplored on Monday the inclusion of three known lawyers in the Armed Forces of the Philippines’s (AFP) list of students from the University of the Philippines (UP) who were either killed or captured after joining the New People’s Army (NPA).
IBP President Doming Cayosa assured the AFP that lawyers Roan Libarios, Alexander Padilla and Rafael Angelo Aquino are not members of the NPA, contrary to the list posted by the AFP in its Facebook post.
In fact, Cayosa said the three lawyers were never captured and they are very much alive.
“We urge government authorities to right the wrong and set firm policies against red-tagging false and reckless publications, shortcuts, and questionable means destroy the very rights, public interests, or principles that we all seek to protect,” Cayosa said.
The IBP said Libarios is a past IBP national president and chairman of the 20th Board of Governors.
During his college years in UP, Libarios became the editor in chief of the UP Collegian.
He also served as vice governor of Agusan del Norte, congressman of the Second District of Agusan del Norte, member of the government’s peace panel and member of the 2018 Consultative Committee on Charter Change.
On the other hand, Padilla served as the president of up law student government, assistant secretary at the Department of the Interior and Local Government, commissioner of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, commissioner of Customs, undersecretary of Health, president of Philhealth and government chief peace negotiator.
Aquino was a UP student leader and is the legal counsel of Rotary International District 3830, senior partner of a private law firm, and a volunteer lawyer of the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG).
“IBP decries red-tagging as it compromises the security and safety of the subjects, besmirches their reputation, causes unwarranted risks, tension, and distress to their families, friends and loved ones,” the IBP said.