THE Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) has sought an immediate investigation into the reported red-tagging of one of its lawyer-members who provided legal assistance to 11 youths arrested and detained in Angeles City.
IBP National President Domingo Egon Q. Cayosa was referring to lawyer Carlos Castillo of the IBP-Zambales who was reportedly branded a “terrorist” by the Facebook page “Lakbay Kapayapaan” after the latter managed to secure the release of the young activists on bail.
Cayosa indicated that Castillo was just performing his duty as a volunteer lawyer for the IBP. He recounted that University of the Philippines (UP) President Danilo L. Concepcion sought IBP’s help for the arrested youths who are also UP students.
The IBP National Center for Legal Aid then alerted its network and IBP Zambales mobilized its Chapter officers and volunteer legal aid lawyers, according to Cayosa. Castillo was one of those who responded and got the detained students released on bail, he added. He said the IBP has brought the red-tagging to the attention of police authorities for investigation.
Detained Senator Leila M. de Lima said the “Lakbay Kapayapaan” Facebook page has been pushing the campaigns of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.
De Lima, who has been detained for her alleged involvement in illegal drug operations inside the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa during her stint as justice secretary, slammed Castillo’s red-tagging in her recent statement.
“For responding to the call for urgent legal assistance of arrested youth activists, Castillo is now being called a terrorist,” she said.