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Lawyer groups, gov't agencies discuss security amid murders in legal profession


Lawyer groups, gov't agencies discuss security amid murders in legal profession

Lawyer groups met with government agencies in the justice sector this month to discuss security issues amid the killings of members of the legal profession in the Philippines. 

Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez on Wednesday said they are preparing a report to be submitted to Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta, whom he said instructed him to meet with stakeholders to "find ways" to address attacks against lawyers. 

More than 50 lawyers, including judges and prosecutors, have been killed since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office in 2016. 

The latest lawyer to be gunned down was Winston Intong, who was reportedly shot several times while he was buying vegetables near his house in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon last week. 

In December, lawyer Maria Concepcion Landero-Ole was killed in Looc, Danao City. The month before, lawyers Eric Jay Magcamit of Palawan and Joey Luis Wee of Cebu were killed in broad daylight just within days of each other. 

Retired Court of Appeals justice Normandie Pizarro was confirmed to have been found dead and mutilated in Tarlac in December. 

Marquez said they conducted four meetings with the stakeholders. 

On January 8, Marquez said they met with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, the Philippine Bar Association, and the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers. 

On January 11, they met with the Department of Justice and its attached agencies including the National Bureau of Investigation and the Public Attorney's Office, and Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento. 

The following day, Marquez said they met with the Department of National Defense, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, the Commission on Human Rights, and law school deans. 

The day after, they met with judges and clerks of court, the court administrator said. 

For his part, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the DOJ will create an inventory of cases of lawyer killings being investigated by the NBI, under preliminary investigation by prosecutors, and undergoing trial in court for close monitoring. 

"Other issues, such as providing greater protection to law practitioners, prosecutors, and judges, will be tackled in subsequent joint activities with the IBP," he said in a message to reporters. —KG, GMA News

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