The Court of Appeals (CA) has granted the privilege of the Writ of Amparo and Habeas Data in favor of missing activist James Jazmines, ruling that his disappearance constitutes an enforced disappearance and underscoring the failure of state authorities to exercise extraordinary diligence in investigating the case.
Atty. Ephraim Cortez, president of the National Union of Peoples Lawyers, shared on Facebook that in a decision dated January 14, 2026, the CA’s 12th Division applied established jurisprudence to conclude that Jazmines’ rights to life, liberty, and security had been gravely violated.
The court stressed that the respondents, including Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., former Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil, and former CIDG Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III, are responsible and accountable for lapses in duty.
The ruling highlights the protective scope of the Writ of Amparo, a constitutional safeguard against extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, and the Writ of Habeas Data, which shields individuals from violations of privacy and security through unlawful surveillance or data collection.
Legal observers note that the decision reinforces judicial oversight in cases of human rights violations, sending a strong signal that state institutions must uphold accountability in safeguarding citizens against abuses. (ZIA LUNA)
