Judge killed in Zamboanga del Norte —SC

A regional trial court judge was shot dead Thursday afternoon in Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte, the Supreme Court (SC) said.

The High Court urged the police to expedite its investigation into the killing of Judge Reymar L. Lacaya of the Sindangan, Zamboanga Del Norte Regional Trial Court Branch 11 and to immediately arrest the perpetrators.

"The entire Judiciary condemns in the strongest possible terms the killing of Judge Lacaya," Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin said in a statement.

The Court said Lacaya is the 30th judge to be killed while serving in the judiciary since 1999.

The SC said it has set measures to address security concerns to prevent work-related killings of judges.

Under the 2005 guidelines, a judge who receives a direct threat may apply for protection with the Philippine National Police or the Court's Security Committee, it said.

The Court added that judges "are granted permits to carry firearms even outside their stations" under a memorandum of agreement the tribunal signed with the Philippine National Police in 2005.

Lacaya's killing came half a year after the slay of Executive Judge Edmundo Pintac of the Ozamiz City Regional Trial Court, who once handled the charges against high-profile drug suspects Ozamiz City Vice Mayor Nova Princess and her brother Reynaldo. — MDM, GMA News