To further its mission of accessible justice and its thrust of community linkage, the Dr. Jovito R. Salonga Center for Law and Development provided a free lecture series last July 2, 2008 at Bacongham Palace, Bacong, Negros Oriental as part of the three-day People’s Organizers training of the Negros Oriental Center for Peoples Empowerment and Development (NOCPED).
Atty. Norberto Denura, JSC’s Labor and Agrarian Desk Coordinator and legal counsel for NOCPED, said that the continuing welfare of NOCPED members is one of the primary concerns of JSC. He further added that the lecture series was an enriching experience both for the NOCPED participants and the JSC volunteer lecturers, who are students of the Silliman University College of Law.
NOCPED is a group of cooperatives, the members of which are farmer beneficiaries of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
Topics included in the lecture were the Constitutional Rights of a Citizen, the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law, the Principles under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Economic, Social, and Political Rights, and the principle of Rightful Resistance.
Sophomore Students Karla Aguilan, James Tinagan, Connie Agbayani and Minda Valencia discussed the salient provisions in the 1987 Constitution while Terrence Callao, Aldeo Diez, Conrado Concepcion, Lemar Macoco, Ilde Cajayon, and Connie Agbayani tackled the intricacies of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law.
Junior students Ma. Zusabel Digaum and Vanessa Enot explained the significance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its incorporation in Philippine laws while Bonna Lisa Borromeo and Romela Mae Lozano emphasized the value of the Convention on Social, Economic and Political Rights. Jason Bandal, also a junior law student, discussed the relevant laws on Rightful Resistance.
Also present during the activity were senior law students Nabi Karl Montenegro, Rommel Mirasol and Rudy Cunanan who gave their legal insights during the Open Forum.
JSC Director Atty. Mikhail Lee Maxino, expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the participants and volunteers, adding that he looks forward to the strengthening of the JSC and NOCPED linkage in other activities.(By Zusabel R. Digaum )
