The Center for Women’s Resources (CWR) expresses its fervent opposition to Quezon City Executive Judge Cecilyn Burgos-Villavert’s application for promotion as Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals (CA), Associate Justice of the Sandiganbayan, and Ombudsman Special Prosecutor. Villavert’s history of issuing questionable search and arrest warrants against activists and women human rights defenders undermines justice and threatens civil liberties.
With the help of state forces, under the direction of former president Rodrigo Duterte, Villavert’s dubious warrants led to illegal arrests and detention of 76 activists from 2018 to 2020, according to human rights group Karapatan. Among the most controversial cases for which Villavert is accountable are the “Human Rights 7”, where activists were slapped with trumped-up charges, and the “Bloody Sunday” operation that killed nine activists in Calabarzon.
Villavert also issued the warrant that led to the arrest of Reina Mae Nasino, who was pregnant at the time, in 2019. Nasino gave birth to her daughter, Baby River, at the Manila City Jail during the pandemic. Shortly after filing an urgent motion for furlough, Baby River died.
Journalist Lady Ann Salem was also arrested through one of Villavert’s warrants. Like in Nasino’s case, courts also voided the warrants issued and cleared her of her charges.
Women’s rights activist Cora Agovida was among those whose homes were raided by the police in 2019 through a Villavert-issued search warrant. The Manila court later acquitted Agovida of the trumped-up charges filed against them by state forces.
Given Villavert’s track record of transgressions and incompetence, there is no question that if she were given higher positions in the judiciary, she would undoubtedly use this power and authority to further sow terror and injustice in a country where there is already rampant corruption and blatant disregard for human rights.
CWR calls upon the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) to heed the appeals of human rights defenders, peace advocates, and their families by rejecting Villavert’s application for promotion and initiating thorough investigations into judges who routinely issue unjustified warrants. CWR implores all Filipinos to stand united and vigilant against all measures and actions that aim to suppress people’s resistance by violating human rights and civil liberties. #
