Habeas Corpus

The better to fight Communist-led Huk rebels, President Quirino last October ordered a nationwide suspension of the writ of habeas corpus.* After three months, it looked as if the suspension was being used less to ferret out Communists than to intimidate Quirino critics.

The latest series of arrests without warrant brought more publicity than the government bargained for. On Jan. 27 military intelligence arrested 26 persons presumably for complicity with the Huks. They included booksellers, labor leaders, a movie producer and eight well-known Manila newspapermen. Two biggest fish among the arrested newsmen: Jose Lan-sang, executive editor of Manila's Philippines Herald, and the Manila Times's star police reporter, Mucario Vincencio, who has written several articles exposing graft.

After holding the suspects incommunicado for several days, the government wordlessly released all but three Herald reporters. Said Suspect Lansang, a trifle nervously: "I was treated very well . . ."

Last week leaders of the Philippine Congress announced that they would fight suspension of the writ of habeas corpus. Quirino's government thereupon announced that the writ would be operative in 15 of the republic's 51 provinces, where "the condition of peace and order is relatively normal."

-A cornerstone of civilization derived Britain via the U.S.

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