Arrest of lawyer Angelo Karlo Guillen
Philippines
On 1 May 2020, lawyer Angelo Karlo Guillen was arrested during a protest in Iloilo City, the Philippines. It was reported that the lawyer was present at the protest to provide legal assistance.
According to our information, 42 individuals were arrested during a protest in Jaro, Iloilo City on the first of May 2020. On that day, people gathered to protest the killing of activist Joy Porquia. Porquia was gunned down on 30 April 2020.
Lawyer Angelo Karlo Guillen, who is a member of the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) was among those 42 arrested. The arrestees were accused of violating several laws such as the Public Assembly Act and Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases. One day after their arrest, Guillen and the other arrestees posted bail and were released from jail.
The NUPL has stated that Guillen was wrongly arrested as he was merely providing legal assistance during the protest.
Lawyers for Lawyers is concerned about the increasing attacks against lawyers in the Philippines. In February, Lawyers for Lawyers submitted a report to the United Nations Human Rights Committee about the situation of lawyers in the Philippines. The Committee will review the Philippines’ compliance with its international human rights obligations, and more in particular the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, in September 2020.