Lawyer shot dead inside own car in Cebu

A lawyer was shot dead inside his own car in Cebu City on Thursday.

According to John Kim Bote’s report on Super Radyo dzBB, the victim, identified as lawyer Rex Fernandez, died on the spot while his driver sustained gunshot wounds after they were shot in Barangay Guadalupe past 5 p.m.

The driver, identified as 37-year-old Tarvy Kondar, has been brought to a hospital. The latest information showed that he survived the incident.

Meanwhile, witnesses said the suspect, who was wearing a bonnet, immediately escaped aboard a motorcycle.

Authorities also retrieved six gun shells from the crime scene. 

Earlier, the victim had joined a hunger strike against the management of his compound in Mandaue after his water supply was cut off.

FLASH REPORT: Isang abugado, patay matapos pagbabarilin sa Brgy. Guadalupe, Cebu City; driver ng biktima, sugatan din sa pamamaril. | via John Kim Bote, Super Radyo Cebu pic.twitter.com/rUIdU19rF9

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) August 26, 2021

The investigation is still ongoing.

In a separate statement, the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) expressed alarm over the killing.

“No words, indeed. Another colleague has fallen with his boots on. We had lost count. It has not stopped and every lawyer is a sitting duck,” NUPL President Edre Olalia said.

In March, the Human Rights Watch denounced the killings of lawyers in the country, saying that lawyers were “being killed like flies.”

Meanwhile, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines said that lawyer killings increased by 500% during the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Rex was a founding member of NUPL in 2007. He was also Karapatan counsel for years. He was passionate, intense, and brave, even as he was unique in many ways,” Olalia said.

“Before he was silenced, he castigated the present administration which he had hitherto placed his sincere hope on would bring change. He died disillusioned that it was not meant to be. Rest in peace already Rex. You fought a good fight,” he added.

Lawyers have also called on the Supreme Court to help stop the attacks on members of the legal profession. -GMA News