SC Chief Justice Peralta condemns killing of retired CA Justice Pizarro

Supreme Court Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta on Tuesday condemned the killing of retired Court of Appeals Justice Normandie Pizarro.

“The killing and murder of any person is never tolerated by our laws. In fact, our courts will always condemn it,” he said in a statement.

“I ask our law enforcement agencies to press on with their investigation so that the perpetrators of this barbaric act can be caught and brought to justice,” Peralta said.

The chief justice also expressed condolences to the family of Pizarro.

“I also extend my sincerest condolences and sympathies to the family of retired Court of Appeals Justice Normandie Pizarro,” he said.

The National Bureau of Investigation on Monday confirmed that the remains found in Capas, Tarlac on October 30 were those of Pizarro who was earlier reported missing.

The NBI needed to run DNA tests and other analyses on the cadaver since its fingers had been cut off, rendering finger print identification impossible. A hand was also amputated.

“Our DNA test results showed that the cadaver recovered in Tarlac are the remains of retired CA Justice Normandie Pizarro. Dental evidence gathered by our forensic team matched with the dental records of the former member of the CA,” NBI Director Eric Distor said.

“Initial investigation also shows that Justice Pizarro was brutally killed in Tarlac seven days before he was found dead last October 30,” he added.

Pizarro was last seen in Pampanga on October 23.

He was reported missing by his relatives shortly afterward.

On October 30, authorities found Pizzaro’s car abandoned in San Simon bearing traces of blood.

The NBI said it would continue investigating the case to determine Pizarro’s cause of the death and the motive behind it, as well as persons of interest.

Pizarro handled and dismissed cases filed against pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles and former Palawan governor Joel Reyes. —KG, GMA News