We Mourn for Attorneys Concepcion Brizuela and Cynthia Oquendo

The lives of election lawyers will never be the same again after November 23. On that day, two lady lawyers were among the 57 souls (to date) who were mercilessly slaughtered on the lonely road of Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao. These lawyers were there to provide legal advice in observance of a democratic political process but sadly, they become victims of barbaric acts unimaginable in this present times.

I do not know these two lady lawyers personally but like them, I am also an election lawyer having served my first tour of duty in 2007 (the year I passed the Bar). As election lawyers, we see to it that our clients are protected against illegal activities made by their opposites and ensure that their rights on a just and equitable election are protected. As lawyers however, we do our battles either in the courts or in COMELEC offices – not on killing fields. The massacre that happened in Ampatuan was an extreme example of the violent politics that caught two lawyers in the middle.

This post is a tribute to these two lady lawyers who were victims of a democratic process that they tried to fight for.

Atty. Concepcion Brizuela
Concepcion Brizuela, 56, is a human rights lawyer and a fixture of woman’s right in Mindanao. From what I have gathered around the net, she embraced human rights and public-interest cases and also handled cases against military officials, the police and civilian armed groups. She was a former broadcaster who was jailed following a libel suit filed against her by a governor. She is known as an advocate criticizing wrongdoers and fights for good governance in Cotabato.

Atty. Cynthia Oquendo

Cynthia Oquendo, 35, is a young, artistic mother who quietly fought for her beliefs. She is active in social justice movements and was known to be involved in activism and health-related causes. She finished law in South Western University in 2000 and practices law in South Cotabato and surrounding areas. Her friendster account list lawyering, mothering and teaching as her occupation and defending, cross-examining lying witnesses, ukay-ukay, art classes, thinking, eating her honey's delicious preps, driving alone, interests with the unknown, mental telepathy, the sixth sense, developmental milestones and sanity as her hobbies and interest.

As a result of probably the bloodiest election-related atrocity in the country, President Arroyo has declared Thursday as a national day of mourning. We mourn for the loss of Attorneys Brizuela and Oquendo and all others that include women, journalists and others who were at the wrong place at the wrong time. As we mourn their loss, we promise to continue to fight for justice and equity in the only country we have. GOD HELP US!!!