November 11, 2019, San Fernando, La Union
The women and men of the Center for Development Programs in the Cordillera express our deepest respect to Judge Mario Anacleto Marero Bañez whom we strongly suspect to have been assassinated for standing by a fair and impartial judiciary in the Regional Trial Court in Tagudin, Ilocos Sur. We hope that his successor and all those in the bar of justice will follow his legacy and continue to uphold justice in the execution of their duties.
We have been a witness to the fairness and impartiality of judgment rendered by Judge Bañez on the case of our health program staff Rachel Mariano. Rachel was lodged a case of murder and several frustrated murder by the 81st Infantry Battalion of the 7th Infantry Division of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. She voluntarily submitted herself under the jurisdiction of the court. She was jailed for a year and released last September 4 having been acquitted by Judge Bañez.
Not only was Judge Banez unconvinced of Rachel’s participation in an armed clash between the AFP and the New People’s Army, he upheld that ‘activist working on the field of health as one of man’s basic rights does not make her a member of the New people’s Army.’ The statement bears the fundamental core principle of International Humanitarian Law, that of making a distinction between combatants and civilians. Judge Bañez vindicated the services of Rachel and our organization as a work promoting basic human rights distinct from the armed revolution being waged by the New People’s Army.
To the family and clan of Judge Mario Anacleto Marero Bañez, our sincerest condolences. We were shocked, saddened and outraged by the senseless assassination. May you find solace in the valiant legacy your love one has lived and was assassinated for. Please know that the CDPC family is with you in your battle for justice.