MANILA — The Supreme Court (SC) has issued writs of amparo and habeas data in favor of lawyer Rey A. Gorgonio and three other petitioners who alleged they were red-tagged by military and law enforcement agencies because of their human rights work.

In an order in G.R. No. E-05032, the SC granted the writs in favor of Gorgonio, Joselito B. Macapobre, Analyn S. Mirano, and Ma. Anabelle Ilustrisimo.

The Court also issued a temporary protection order directing Lieutenant General Antonio G. Nafarrete and the other respondents not to go within one kilometer of the petitioners and their immediate family members.

The SC ordered the respondent military and law enforcement officers to file, within 10 days of receiving the order, a verified return containing their lawful defenses and other relevant information, along with their comment on the petition, before the Court of Appeals (CA).

The Court further directed the CA to conduct a summary hearing to determine whether the petitioners are entitled to the privileges of the writs of amparo and habeas data, and to resolve the case within 10 days after it is submitted for decision.

In their petition, the four alleged they were red-tagged by military and law enforcement agencies and falsely identified as members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) because of their human rights advocacy and their involvement with Paghida-et sa Kauswagan Development Group Inc., a non-government organization that supports farmers and rural communities in Negros Island in pursuing agrarian reform.