This was the reaction of former Deputy Speaker and senatorial candidate Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada as he and his father, former Senator Wigberto “Bobby” Tañada were at the receiving end of one of President Rodrigo Duterte’s vitriolic attacks. Speaking in front of a crowd in Marikina Hotel and Convention Center, the President called out the Tañadas for having done nothing but defend communists.

“I have never defended communists in court as alleged by President Duterte. I am a human rights lawyer. My grandfather and father defended Ninoy Aquino during Martial Law.” Tañada said.

Tañada, however, emphasized that right to counsel is a basic personal right. “There is nothing wrong defending communists in Court. The Bill of Rights article of the Constitution states that no one can be deprived of life or liberty without having been provided with a good defense in a fair trial. They, just like everyone else, are entitled to their day in court aided by competent counsel.”

During Tañada’s three terms as Quezon Province Fourth District’s Representative in Congress, he authored the Repeal of the Death Penalty Law, Cheaper Medicines Law, Anti-Torture Act, Condonation of SSS Penalties on Deliquent Contributions, People’s Survival Fund, Anti-Enforced Disappearance Act, Human Rights Recognition and Reparation Act, and the Universal Healthcare Law. He voted against the raising of the VAT rate from 10 to 12% and has always called for a tax structure that shifts the burden to the rich rather than the poor. In his nine years in Congress, Tañada said he relentlessly worked for the welfare of Filipino workers and farmers, and all consistently within the context of human rights.

“There is nothing wrong with dreaming about better economic, employment, and living conditions for our farmers and workers. There is nothing wrong about believing in yourself that you can do something about it. That I share this aspiration with the CPP-NPA does not mean I am a member of the Party. Some universal ideals are worth fighting for. And I will fight for them as how my grandfather and my father fought for them--with all their heart, their mind, their life,” shared Tañada.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on second reading a bill on lowering the age of criminal responsibility to 12 years old (from its initial proposal setting it nine years old).

“Bakit po tayo magpo-focus sa two percent?” Tañada said in his interview on Dobol B sa News TV series "Ikaw Na Ba?" senatorial interviews.

“Kung titingnan natin kung ilang krimen ang ginagawa ng minors ayon sa datos ng pulis, out of 100 crimes, two percent lang ang involved ang minors,” Tañada said.

For Tañada, if these children will be held liable to a crime at 12 years old because they are already capable of "discernment between right and wrong," why not allow them to vote in elections or engage in contracts?

“Kung titignan natin na merong discernment na ang isang bata, bakit hindi natin hayaang bumuto, pumasok sa kontrata?” Tañada said.

One of the reasons behind the present administration's push to lower the age of criminal liability is that children are being used by criminal syndicates, as they are immune from criminal punishment and criminal charges.

The move has gained traction at the House of Representatives and is gaining support at the Senate.

Source: https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/682593/candidate-tanada-questions-focus-on-lowering-age-of-criminal-liability/story/

Tañada said after an Aksyon Demokratiko event in San Juan on Monday that he is ready to bring the issue before the Supreme Court.

“Kung ito ay, for some source of unexplainable and stupid wisdom, passes the Senate, ilalaban po namin ‘yan sa Korte Suprema para sabihin na ito ay talagang labag sa ating Konstitusyon,” he said.

(If this, for some source of unexplainable and stupid wisdom, passes the Senate, we will bring this fight to the Supreme Court to show that this is against our Constitution.)

“As a human rights lawyer I am against it,” he added.

The House of Representatives’ justice panel earlier approved the bill, amid opposition from non-government organizations and lawmakers.

Tañada, who is running under the “Otso Diretso” slate, said that if he were a member of the 17th Congress, and if he was still the chair of the House committee on human rights, the measure would have not been approved.

“I’ve been the chairman of the committee on human rights sa (at the) House of Representatives before being the deputy speaker, kung ako nandoon, eh syempre talagang haharangin ko ‘yan (I would have opposed that),” Tañada claimed.

“They may have arguments that it’s constitutional, there are also arguments that we can say is unconstitutional because it is an imposition of a cruel and unjust punishment to a nine-year-old,” he added.

Other personalities including Vice President Leni Robredo, former National Youth Commissioner and actor Dingdong Dantes, and Tañada’s  fellow Otso Diretso candidates such as Senator Bam Aquino and Samira Gutoc have also voiced their opposition to the proposal.

Source: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1075471/tanada-vows-to-take-age-of-criminal-liability-issue-to-sc?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR0Tga_xOJ3xPTmGcTCbB4RCOyyhOHj8xxR5XXVhiADma21TnvD43n6Z64M#Echobox=1548056052

While rampant drug use is a problem, fighting it never gives the government license to disregard Constitutional and international legal obligations. The right to life and security of every person must be protected regardless if they are, or are not suspected criminals.

On Human Rights Day, we unite with the thousands of Filipino families calling for an end to impunity in this country.

"All we ask is that President Duterte give his fellow Filipinos the same degree of respect and compassion that he gives to Chinese nationals. Bakit gusto niyang ipapatay ang mga kapwa Pilipino natin na istambay pero gusto niyang alagaan natin ang mga Tsinong kumukuha ng mga trabahong dapat mabigay sa Pilipino?

In a statement yesterday, Tañada expressed disbelief over Revilla’s acquittal, noting that the evidence provided by the Anti-Money Laundering Council “is damning.”

“It is with great disbelief that the Sandiganbayan acquitted Bong Revilla despite demanding that he return the P124 million in his bank accounts… It is with greater suspicion that he refuses to return what has proven to be stolen funds. That proves his intent to gain from his pork barrel funds. He is guilty,” the statement read.  

Tañada said the amount could be used to buy four million kilos of rice from the National Food Authority (NFA) for distribution to the country’s poor families or spent on giving Filipino hospital patients free consultation, medicines and diagnostic tests.

“These are part of the outpatient benefit package of 177,143 workers who are PhilHealth members and our poor households. Under the current budget of the Universal Health Care (UHC), each patient has an allocation of P700 pesos per year for these free health services outside of the current in-patient benefits,” he pointed out.

Or, if not spent for those, Tañada said the P124 million could also be used to hire 1,703 doctors and nurses who will “look after our families in the remote areas,” adding that there are six out of 1- Filipinos dying without seeing a doctor.

“More Filipino families will be denied of the public services due them if we will not be vigilant in watching over our people’s resources,” he stressed.

Source: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/12/10/1875714/revilla-should-return-p124-million-pdaf?fbclid=IwAR3wHNhXQ9R83mzg565Q5lSjLd-diBoYeHfeDQempT3J9oO5eN7yfbexvAU

This was former Deputy Speaker Erin Tañada’s comment on the guilty verdict on the three policemen who killed 17-year old Delos Santos in an anti-illegal drug operation in August 2017.

“It is a warning shot against those who take legal shortcuts. There will always be a day of reckoning for those who follow illegal orders,” Tañada said in a statement on Thursday.

“No bad deed will be forever hidden in darkness. The dawn of justice will come to those who perished in the night,” he added.

The Caloocan City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 125, earlier, convicted PO3 Arnel Oares, PO1 Jeremias Pereda, and PO1 Jerwin Cruz of killing Delos Santos in August 2017.

All three were sentenced to reclusion perpetua without eligibility of parole.

“May this court decision reverse all justifications for summary executions and propensity to just kill anybody who will be found violating the law,” Tañada said.

Source: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1058535/erin-tanada-verdict-on-kians-case-a-warning-shot-vs-those-who-take-legal-shortcuts?fbclid=IwAR1YnO0Toh0gEZTVglJ56skr03IkS_wTzdC7HpBchS6njqmkk0n9laTM7Zg

“If our people can’t take care of the simplest thing like their own garbage, then this shows how we care for our country and our government whoever the leader may be… Is our country really ‘down in the dump’? he tweeted.

Tañada made the statement after authorities collected 12 trucks of garbage at Luneta park a day after Christmas. The incident has triggered outrage and calls to keep parks and other places clean and green.

Source: https://politics.com.ph/tanada-on-luneta-mess-is-our-country-really-down-in-the-dumps/?fbclid=IwAR0XwNvWT_wwTDUrtesosWfIpO7wwv0Cypoatj3sada65_o71sFaiyP4B5Q

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