SC issues Amparo for priest (Robert Reyes / Philippines)

Saturday, January 19, 2008
‘Running priest’ wants hold-departure orders lifted
Father Reyes receives Writ of Amparo from High Court

Rey G. Panaligan

The Supreme Court (SC) has issued a Writ of Amparo for Fr. Robert Reyes, known as the "Running Priest," and directed the Court of Appeals (CA) to resolve his plea to compel the Department of Justice (DoJ) to lift its hold-departure orders (HDOs) issued against him and those who participated in the Nov. 29, 2007 stand-off at the Peninsula Manila Hotel in Makati City.

In a full court resolution, the SC directed Justice Secretary Raul M. Gonzalez and Immigration Commissioner Marcelino C. Libanan to explain, in a verified return of the writ, not later than Thursday, Jan. 24, the continued enforcement of the HDOs ...

In his petition, Reyes told the SC that the HDOs issued last December have not been lifted by the DoJ despite the dismissal by a Makati City regional trial court (RTC) of the rebellion charges filed against him and 50 other persons.

.. Amparo is a .. legal remedy to protect an individual against .. threats to his or her life, liberty, and security ...

http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN20080119114747.html

November 30, 2007
Manila Peninsula Standoff: They came, they saw, they conquered?
... Trillanes revolt crushed
PNP says 101 arrested inside Manila Peninsula
By Julie M. Aurelio, DJ Yap, Gil C. Cabacungan Jr., Volt Contreras

InquirerMANILA, Philippines —

... Trillanes, 25 other charged Magdalo comrades and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim of the Army’s Special Action Forces, walked out of their coup d’etat hearing at the Makati Regional Trial Court’s Branch 148 at the 14th floor at around 10:42 a.m. ...

“We are joining the people in calling for the resignation of Mrs. Arroyo, because the President continues to violate the Constitution and continues to plunder the treasury, disrespect the rule of law and prostitute our institutions,” Lim said during the march ...

By 12:30 p.m., a group of civilian supporters composed of former Vice President Teofisto Guingona, “Running Priest” Fr. Robert Reyes, Bishops Antonio Tobias and Julio Labayen, former University of the Philippines president Francisco “Dodong” Nemenzo, and JV Bautista and Argee Guevarra of the leftist group Sanlakas, had arrived and held a press conference at the mezzanine ...

“You have been witnesses and victims of the kind of ruthlessness that the administration has been giving to the people,” <Trillanes> told reporters ...

http://fvdb.wordpress.com/2007/11/30/manila-peninsula-standoff-they-came-they-saw-they-conquered/

... Fr. Reyes goes on jogging runs, bringing media attention to social realities and campaigns against the negative influence of traditional politicians in the Philippines.

Together with a strong following, he led a run with a large group of followers from Subic town proper to Olongapo City. His message to the citizens was for them to exercise their rights to vote in the coming election in a most responsible way and to shun voting for traditional politicians who rule with oppressive polices and perpetuate themselves through family dynasties.

His day long run attracted a big following and a large crowd gathered at the Olongapo circle where several progressive priests celebrated a Mass for peace and justice at the circle. The civil society movement of the city was there with banners and issued a declaration of principle ...

http://www.preda.org/work/olongapo/olongapo.html