Free Legal Assistance Group

The Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) is a nationwide organization of human rights lawyers in the Philippines.^[1][2] It was founded in 1974 by Sen. Jose W. Diokno,^[1] Lorenzo Tañada^[3] and Joker Arroyo^[4] during the martial law era under former President Ferdinand Marcos.^[5] It is the first and largest group of human rights lawyers established in the nation.^[6] They work on countering varied abuses of human rights and civil liberties. Its current chairman is human rights attorney Chel Diokno,^[7] the founding dean of the De La Salle University Tañada-Diokno College of Law. Among their lawyers is former Supreme Court spokesman^[8] Theodore Te, currently representing Maria Ressa in her cyberlibel case.^[9]

FLAG

Founded	1974
Founders	Jose W. Diokno Lorenzo M. Tañada
Headquarters	Sanidad Law Office, Eastside Building, 77 Malakas Street, Brgy. Pinyahan, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Fields	human rights, legal representation, legal advice
Key people	Chel Diokno (Chairperson)
Website	FLAG Namati Website

Founding and martial law era work

Main article: Human rights abuses of the Marcos dictatorship

 

FLAG hosting a rally during martial law

 

FLAG chairman Dean Diokno

See also: Human rights in the Philippines

FLAG was founded in 1974 by Sen. Jose W. Diokno,^[10] Sen. Lorenzo M. Tañada^[11] and Atty. Joker Arroyo^[12] - two years after the 1972 proclamation of Martial law under Ferdinand Marcos. Diokno had conceived the law firm right after being released from 718 days as the Marcos administration's political prisoner,^[13] as a means of supporting human rights victims through a new and innovative method called developmental legal aid.

During the dictatorship, FLAG defended farmers, similar victims of agrarian reform, and activists who were victims of paramilitary abuses, with Diokno noted to have helped even further by giving allowances to clients without any financial means.^[14] Most cases at this time regarding human rights abuses were handled by FLAG, in coordination with smaller groups such as the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines. Human Rights Primers were also an integral aspect of the advocacy of human rights that FLAG initiated in the Philippines.^[15]

FLAG's activities sometimes placed lawyers working with them at risk. Among the FLAG lawyers murdered during the dictatorship^[16] were Zorro Aguilar, Romraflo Taojo, and Crisostomo Cailing, all of whom have since been honored by having their names inscribed on the wall of remembrance at the Philippines' Bantayog ng mga Bayani, which honors the martyrs and heroes who fought against the Marcos' authoritarian rule.^[17]

FLAG has been a recipient of multiple awards such as the Concerned Women of the Philippines (CWP) Human Rights Award in the 1980s.^[18]

Recent history

Among the recent advocacies of FLAG in recent years has been to help stem the tide of Extra-Judicial Killings linked to the Philippine drug war.^[19] There have also been cases linked to the libel case of Maria Ressa, as well as the case on the Anti-Terror Law of 2020.^[20]

Notable members

 

Ted Te with Maria Ressa

• Roberto A. Abad, associate justice of the Supreme Court who first worked at the Jose W. Diokno Law Office as an associate from 1968 to 1969, then later joined FLAG under Diokno^[21][22]
• Zorro Aguilar, activist, newspaper editor, and human rights lawyer from Dipolog, Zamboanga who became a martyr during the late years of Marcos's militaristic regime.^[16] One of the 65 names first inscribed on the wall of remembrance at the Philippines' Bantayog ng mga Bayani, which honors him as Martyr of the resistance against the dictatorship.
• Jejomar Binay, vice-president, Chair of the Metro Manila chapter in the 1970s^[23]
• David Bueno, human rights lawyer, martial law activist, and martyr who defended Martial Law victims in Ilocos Norte, which was the native province of Ferdinand Marcos. One of the 65 names first inscribed on the wall of remembrance at the Philippines' Bantayog ng mga Bayani, which honors him as Martyr of the resistance against the dictatorship.
• Marvic Leonen, associate justice of the Supreme Court^[24]
• Rosario "Chato" Olivas-Gallo, DLSU College of Law vice-dean, children's rights activist, and CEO of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, which is a human rights organization that protects persecuted Christians and is based in Hong Kong; Olivas-Gallo through Christian Solidarity Worldwide has also called for freer democratic processes in developing countries^[25]
• Kiko Pangilinan, senator and vice-presidential candidate^[26]
• Manuel Quibod, human rights lawyer specializing in taxation law, FLAG Regional Coordinator for Southern Mindanao, and Dean of the Ateneo de Davao College of Law^[27]
• Rene Saguisag, senator, professor, Manila Times columnist, and lawyer who served as the spokesman for President Corazon Aquino after the 1986 People Power Revolution
• Arno Sanidad, FLAG deputy secretary-general, law professor, and member of the Regional Council on Human Rights in Asia whose law office serves as FLAG's mailing address for filed grievances concerning abuse and reports of human rights violations
• Lorenzo "Erin" Tañada III, human rights lawyer, congressman, activist, and news anchor and broadcaster for UNTV
• Romraflo Taojo, Filipino labor and human rights lawyer, activist, and educator killed on April 2, 1985, when unidentified gunman believed to be part of a paramilitary group acting on orders from the militaryshot him in his apartment in Tagum, Davao del Norte. One of the 65 names first inscribed on the wall of remembrance at the Philippines' Bantayog ng mga Bayani, which honors him as Martyr of the resistance against the dictatorship.
• Theodore O. "Ted" Te, lawyer of Maria Ressa^[28][29]
• Haydee B. Yorac, Commission on Elections Chairwoman, Chairwoman of the Presidential Commission on Good Government, and Ramon Magsaysay Award Winner^[30]

See also

• Jose W. Diokno
• Chel Diokno
• Lorenzo Tañada
• Human rights abuses of the Marcos dictatorship
• Task Force Detainees of the Philippines
• Bantayog ng mga Bayani

References

1. "Heroes and Martyrs: Diokno, Jose W." Bantayog ng mga Bayani. October 15, 2015. from the original on August 5, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
2. Medina, Marielle (February 21, 2017). "IN THE KNOW: FLAG". Philippine Daily Inquirer. from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
3. Clarke, Gerard (May 17, 2006). The Politics of NGOs in Southeast Asia: Participation and Protest in the Philippines. Routledge. pp. 168–169, 173. ISBN 978-1-134-69535-5.
4. "Remembering Joker Arroyo". Philippine Daily Inquirer. October 7, 2015. Retrieved July 24, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
5. Francisco, Katerina (February 20, 2017). "Meet Lascañas' battle-tested FLAG lawyers". Rappler. Retrieved June 18, 2020. Founded in 1974 by the late senators Jose W. Diokno, Lorenzo Tañada Sr., and Joker Arroyo, FLAG provided free legal services to victims of martial law during the Marcos years.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
6. "Faculty List". Retrieved March 21, 2022.
7. Chiu, Patricia Denise M. "Unique killings, same language, lawyers say of drug war reports". Philippine Daily Inquirer. from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
8. Buan, Lian (September 3, 2018). "Spokesman Ted Te resigns from Supreme Court". Rappler. Retrieved June 18, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
9. "Court convicts Rappler CEO Ressa in cyberlibel case". CNN Philippines. June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
10. "DIOKNO, Jose W." October 15, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
11. Clarke, Gerard (May 17, 2006). The Politics of NGOs in Southeast Asia: Participation and Protest in the Philippines. Routledge. pp. 168–169, 173. ISBN 978-1-134-69535-5.
12. "Remembering Joker Arroyo". Philippine Daily Inquirer. October 7, 2015. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
13. "Xiao Time: Adbokasiya ng abugadong si Jose W. Diokno". February 26, 2013.
14. "A Survey of Private Legal Practitioners to Monitor Access to Justice by the Disadvantaged" (PDF). Retrieved October 15, 2020.
15. "Diokno, Jose W."
16. Margolick, David; Times, Special To the New York (July 11, 1985). "BAR GROUP ASSAILS PHILIPPINES AS ABUSING LAWYERS (Published 1985)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. from the original on May 24, 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
17. "Martyrs & Heroes".
18. Estabillo, Matthew (October 26, 2003). "Filipinas in the frontlines of social change".
19. Weiss, Brennan. "The lawyers on the front line of Duterte's drug war". Al Jazeera. from the original on March 7, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
20. Patag, Kristine Joy (December 10, 2021). "Future 'scary and depressing' with SC upholding anti-terrorism law — lawyers".
21. Reformina, Ina (July 19, 2012). "CJSearch PROFILE: Associate Justice Roberto Afan Abad".
22. Bernal, Buena (May 22, 2014). "SC Justice Abad retirement paves way for 5th Aquino appointee".
23. "Profile of Jejomar "Jojo" Cabauatan Binay".
24. "WHY LAWYERS MATTER - MARVIC LEONEN". November 18, 2013.
25. "Activists to campaign for freer Myanmar". March 16, 2008. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
26. "Senator Kiko Pangilinan". 2021.
27. Torres-Tupas, Tetch. "Top lawyers revive old group to fight Duterte policies".
28. "Lawyers' group denounces raps against members". ABS-CBN News. July 20, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
29. Buan, Lian (February 26, 2019). "Dismiss cyber libel case vs Maria Ressa, Rappler – Te, FLAG".
30. "MARTYRS AND HEROES: Yorac, Haydee B." Bantayog ng mga Bayani. January 18, 2017. from the original on December 29, 2017. Retrieved May 16, 2021.

External links

• official website