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MANILA, Philippines – Gunmen attacked a regional trial court judge and his staff on their way to Naga City on Tuesday afternoon, police said.
The victims were identified as Judge Jeaneth Gaminde San Joaquin of the 56th Branch of the Regional Court of First Instance and her staff Rocelle S. Martinez. The two were injured and taken to the Libmanan district hospital.
According to the police report, the incident occurred around 2:30 pm Tuesday along Barangay Puro Batia, Libmanan, Camarines Sur, while Judge San Joaquín y Martínez’s vehicle was heading to the city of Naga.
Two assailants on a motorcycle shot them. The pursuit operation is ongoing.
The Philippine-Camarines Sur Integrated Bar Association, in a statement condemned “in the strongest terms the evil attack and vicious assault on the life of Judge Jeaneth Gaminde San Joaquin and her secretary.”
“IBP Camarines Sur, in coordination with the authorities, will not leave hidden corners or safe barracks for the evil perpetrators,” they also stated.
Since 2016, records showed that the number of attacks against members of the Bench and the Bar has increased.
From August 2016 to July 7, 2020, according to data from the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), a total of 49 lawyers, prosecutors and judges have been assassinated. The figure is higher than the 27 lawyers killed in a period of eight years or from 2006 to 2014 according to data from an international organization, Lawyers for Lawyers. [ac]
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