FLAG expresses concern over 61 lawyers killed since 2016

The Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) has expressed concern over the killing of 61 lawyers since the Duterte administration started in 2016, Emil Sumangil reported on  Saksi on Tuesday.

The number is higher than 28 lawyers killed in a span of four decades under different presidents.

The information, which was provided by FLAG, is a cause for concern.

"Nababahala kami kasi hindi naman pangkaraniwan na ganoon kadaming abogado ang pinapatay e. Nakikiisa kami doon sa panawagan ng mga abogado, na kailangan gawan ng paraan ito at nananawagan kami sa Supreme Court," said Atty. Theodore Te, FLAG Metro Manila coordinator.

In the opinion of the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL), the government is behind the spate of killings.

"Ang mga biktima, bago sila naatake, ni-red tag muna sila ng gobyerno, o kaya binira muna sila ng gobyerno. Pangalawa, ang mga attacks na ito, may rhythm eh," said NUPL President Atty. Neri Colmenares.

"Karamihan ng mga attacks in broad daylight, maraming witness, parang hindi natatakot 'yung gumawa na mahuli ng pulis. At 'yung pangatlo, 'yung kawalan ng interes ng gobyerno na imbestigahan ang mga killings na ito," he added.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Monday said President Rodrigo Duterte will not put the lives of lawyers at risk.

“The President himself is a lawyer. Do you think he will have a policy that will put his fellow members of the legal profession in personal jeopardy or something to that effect? I don’t think so,” Guevarra said at a Palace news conference.

Guevarra said the attacks could be attributed to the “circumstances,” and “not because of whoever is the head of the present administration.” -- BAP, GMA News