A MILITANT legislator bared plans on Monday to ban “strategic lawsuits against public participation” to protect Filipino environmentalists, indigenous people advocates, journalists and activists from harassment suits by mining companies, oil companies and similar corporate interests.

“Our friends in the environment protection movement have been at the receiving end of different forms of harassment cases for libel, defamation, obstruction of businesses and even conspiracy. I want to stop this nefarious practice of foreign-backed corporate entities that aim to silence and neutralize their critics through Slapp cases,” said Party-list Rep. Teodoro Casiño of Bayan Muna.

Slapps are lawsuits whose aim is not so much to convict persons involved in public-interest advocacies but to pin them down through lengthy and costly legal battles.

Casiño said that he will file a bill to define Slapp in the Philippine setting, and prescribe appropriate penalties for those engaged in the practice as well as proper compensation for those victimized by said suits.

“Slapp suits are being used by corporate giants and governments worldwide against those who work publicly to protect the rights of consumers, workers, women, minorities and other marginalized groups. Slapp defendants have been sued for lawful actions such as initiating signature campaigns, circulating a petition, publishing articles in newsletters, organizing and speaking in public meetings, reporting violations of the law, or participating in peaceful demonstrations. We have to put a stop to this form of harassment and intimidation that disempowers the people,” Casiño said.

He added that Slapp suits have been filed by foreign-backed, large-scale mining companies against environmental activists who have decried the way these companies have been polluting the environment, endangering the lives and livelihood of local communities, and extracting super profits at the expense of the country’s ecosystem.

“I shall work hand-in-hand with environmentalists and various people’s organizations in crafting an anti-Slapp bill. We will work to protect our people from the brazen legal tactics of these very powerful entities,” Casiño said.

THE Supreme Court (SC) has reprimanded a Caloocan City female judge, who convicted several members of the Aquila Legis Fraternity 17 years ago for the death of Ateneo law student Lenny Villa, for the use of disrespectful language in her pleadings.

THE military vowed on Monday to finish the campaign against the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan by wiping out the remaining bandits and other lawless elements in the province.

SENATE Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. decried on Monday the nearly five-year delay in the opening of the long-finished Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), saying it has severely set back the country’s drive to lure more foreign tourists and investors and deprived Filipino travelers of the opportunity to enjoy the convenience of a state-of-the-art, modern air terminal.

A DISAPPOINTED Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. on Monday bewailed the noninclusion of the proposal for the establishment of a federal system in the peace talks between the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), insisting that this could be a long-range and ultimate political solution to the incessant Muslim rebellion in the South.

A MILITANT legislator bared plans on Monday to ban “strategic lawsuits against public participation” to protect Filipino environmentalists, indigenous people advocates, journalists and activists from harassment suits by mining companies, oil companies and similar corporate interests.