Duterte, Robredo urged to act on murders of lawyers

MANILA – The Integrated Bar Association of the Philippines (IBP) on Tuesday urged the government to act on 54 murders of lawyers since President Rodrigo Duterte took office in 2016.

The IBP made the appeal in a letter to Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo after the Justice Department confirmed the death of the missing former Court of Appeals Judge Normandie Pizarro.

“We call on our brother lawyers in all branches of government who hold positions of great authority and power to take concerted action to decisively address attacks on lawyers,” he said.

Both Duterte and Robredo are lawyers.

“We seek this not only on behalf of the murdered attorneys, their families and the legal profession, but more importantly, for our country which has long suffered from escalating crime and has delayed or denied justice,” said the IBP.

The IBP said it has launched a Justice and Security Program for Attorneys, consisting of formal agreements with law enforcement officers, training and assistance in security of attorneys, legal assistance, and a P25 million fund for crucial information and witnesses necessary to hold accountable killers of lawyers, among others. others.

He said the program has produced positive results in the timely resolution of recent murders of lawyers, such as the murder of Eric Magcamit in Palawan and Joey Luis Wee in Cebu City.

“When lawyers, judges, prosecutors and justice sector workers are killed with impunity and with alarming regularity, no one feels safe, our people lose trust and faith in our government and its justice system, and the unscrupulous take heart. to take the law into their criminal hands, “he said.

“We ask prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges to do JUSTICE BILIS and to terminate cases fairly and quickly. In addition to addressing their root causes, the certainty and timeliness of accountability and punishment is a proven antidote to the criminality and impunity “.