Rizal 2nd District Rep. Fidel Nograles denounced the recent killings of a lawyer and judge in separate incidents, which adds to growing the list of lawyers, judges, and prosecutors killed since 2016 up to 52.
Lawyer Eric Jay Magcamit was gunned down on Tuesday while on his way to a hearing in Quezon, Palawan. Meanwhile, Judge Ma. Theresa Abadilla was shot by her clerk of court inside her own chambers in Manila on November 11.
“I urge our authorities to investigate these killings and resolve all pending investigations so that the victims and their families can have justice.”
“I denounce these latest acts of violence against workers of the justice sector. I urge our authorities to investigate these killings and resolve all pending investigations so that the victims and their families can have justice,” Nograles said.
Nograles filed House Resolution No. 185 in 2019, which called for an inquiry into the deaths of law practitioners.
The said resolution calls for the creation by the Department of Justice and Philippine National Police, in close coordination with the Commission on Human Rights and Integrated Bar of the Philippines, of a special task force to enforce legal action against perpetrators of crimes against workers in the legal sector.
“We need to protect our law workers to reassure our people that they, too, will be safe if they wish to fight for their rights within our justice system.”
The Harvard-trained lawyer said that the perpetration of violence against workers of the law threatens the justice system.
“Mananaig ang takot kung makikita ng mga kababayan natin na mismong ang mga taong lumalaban para maitaguyod ang karapatan ng iba ay walang habas na pinapaslang,” lamented Nograles.
“We need to protect our law workers to reassure our people that they, too, will be safe if they wish to fight for their rights within our justice system,” added Nograles.
The neophyte lawmaker also urged the DOJ and PNP to commit to speedily and credibly resolve pending investigations into the deaths of judges, lawyers, and prosecutors.
“Every day that passes that these cases remain unresolved is a mark against the government. Let us not allow the tally to reach the point where the people lose faith in the government’s ability to protect its citizens,” Nograles said.