Press Release
September 22, 2009

STRENGTHEN RULE OF LAW, SAYS LOREN

Sen. Loren Legarda yesterday said that the next administration should strengthen the rule of law to guarantee the security of human rights.

"In a country where there is no guarantee for human rights because there is no strict adherence to the rule of law, where a man can be arrested without warrant, abducted, detained, tortured and even murdered by the forces of the state, there can be no stability, and where there is no stability, there can be no peace and common prosperity," Loren declared.

Recalling the years of martial law, Loren said that "violations of human rights occur when the state ignores the laws guaranteeing human rights and civil liberties supposedly to protect the state and the people."

Loren declared "that there could be no excuse, not even the excuse of defending the state that would justify the violation of the constitutional and legal rights of the individual."

Loren recalled then President Ferdinand Marcos proclaimed martial law "to save the Republic and reform our society."

Loren also recalled, "during those dark years, all kinds of abuses against individuals and organizations can be justified under the pretext that they are being done to protect the state and promote peace and order and defend the public against anarchy."

Loren said that "when a government violates the rule of law, such as arresting an individual without a warrant, detaining a person without due process, and worse, abducting, detaining, torturing and even killing an individual on the ground that he or she is suspected of plotting or acting against the state, that is the time when the fabric of society starts to unravel, and everybody's freedom and security is under threat."

Loren declared that the elected leaders in the 2010 elections should "restore the faith and confidence of our people in the rule of law, in the reign of justice, in the full protection of human rights so that they can concentrate their full resources and talent to the building of a strong, harmonious and progressive society."

Loren stated that "this is the primordial and principal duty of a state, and when a state fails to protect the rights of the individual, then it has failed in its social contract and is bound to reap the enmity, hatred and violent resistance of the citizenry."

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