ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONALE DES JURISTES DEMOCRAT INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF DEMOCRATIC LAWYERS ASOCIACION INTERNACIONAL DE JURISTAS DEMOCRATAS fs ATOR DOA (abel Feu) Sc Bg eedl Zhao) Rue Brialmont 21 1210 Brussels, Belgium ‘Tel./Fax: (322) 23.33.10 website: htp://www jadliaw.org Office ofthe President 113 Univesity Place, 8th FL October 12, 2010 = New York, New York 10005, = 2124473-8700 pBBidem@igcllow.ors HE. Benigno C. Aquino III President, Republic of the Philippines Malacanang Palace IP. Laurel St, San Miguel Manila, Philippines Re: The 43 Health Workers known as the Morong 43 Dear President Aquino, T am waiting to you on behalf of the International Association of Democratic Lawyers ([ADL) regarding the case of the 43 health workers known as the Morong 43. The IADL has been following this case from the time we heard of the arrest of these workers. We are aware of the illegality of the search given that the warrant was obtained for an entirely different person and place than the conference center where these workers were in a week long training. The illegal search ‘makes the subsequent arrest of these workers illegal, as there were no. arrest warrants. We are also aware that they were deprived of counsel for many days, and when they were rounded up at the conference center there ‘was ample opportunity for the military to plant incriminating evidence. We are also disturbed that the petition appealing the dismissal of the habeas corpus case form the Court of Appeals challenging the legality of the search and their arrest has been pending at the Supreme Court for almost 7 months. ‘The IADL leadership attended the Fifth Conference of Lawyers of Asia Pacific (COLAP V) in Manila a few weeks ago. On September 15, we met with Justice Secretary De Lima who assured us she was reviewing the case. We met the prisoners on Monday September 20, and observed their conditions of confinement, We also heard from the women prisoners, that.based-on their qualifications as health workers, they have been asssting the prison authorities in teaching health related subjects to the administration and the other prisonersHE. Benigno C, Aquino IIL President, Republic of the Philippines Malacanang Palace IP. Laurel St, San Miguel Manila, Philippines Page 2 Re: The 43 Health Workers known as the Morong 43 We understand that the Justice Secretary has completed her review and has forwarded it to you for action. While we do not know what the Justice Secretary has concluded, we know from our meeting with her, that based on her work as head of the Human Rights Commission, she was aware of the facts of the case and the problems noted above regarding their arrest and detention. She also acknowledged the poliey of prior administrations of legal harassment which the workers claim they have been subjected to. We, therefore, hope that she has recommended that the prosecutions be abandoned and that you will agree to this request. Having met with these workers in prison we are firmly convinced that they are sincere and dedicated health workers who want to provide medical support to people of the Philippines who do not have access to medical care. We request that you take action as soon as possible to address the issues raised in the report by Secretary de Lima and move with dispatch to release these 43 health workers who have now been held for more than 8 months. Very truly yours, hone [roy Jeanne Mirer, President of IADL. IEMzee Ce: Hon. Leila de Lima Secretary, Department of Justice Pardre Faura Manila, Philippines