IBP hails SC steps to curb attacks vs lawyers, judges as eight senators slam ‘brazen’ killings
THE Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) welcomed on Wednesday the Supreme Court’s move to institute measures that would prevent the rising incidents of red-tagging, threats, intimidation and killings of lawyers and judges in the country.
As this developed, eight senators, crossed partylines to strongly denounce the alarming increase in the number of judges and lawyers killed in the recent wave of violence inf licted upon members of the law profession.
“Our lawyers play a crucial role in the administration of justice in the country, especially in representing the most marginalized members of the community,” the senators stated in Resolution 691 filed by Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon with Senators Juan Edgardo Angara, Pilar Cayetano, Leila de Lima, Richard Gordon, Francisco Pangilinan, Aquilino Pimentel III, and Francisco Tolentino.
In a news statement, IBP President Domingo Egon Cayosa said his group is grateful for the SC’S decision to take cognizance of the concerns of the members of the legal profession.
“We welcome the en banc statement of the Honorable Supreme Court on the safety and security of lawyers and judges. It is deeply appreciated.
We are pleased and grateful that a number of the suggestions and recommendations of the IBP are being acted upon,” said Cayosa.
The IBP assured that they would work with the Judiciary, government agencies, other sectors and lawyers to improve the security aspect of those belonging to their profession.
“While we vigorously pushback against any threat, violence or disregard of due process, we will move forward and focus on what we can do to deliver ‘Justice Bilis,’” he said.
“Only when the evil-doers are swiftly and surely held accountable that the criminals fear the law and respect the rights of other. Justice Bilis helps secure not only the magistrates and lawyers but every citizen, especially the disadvantaged,” Cayosa added.
Last Tuesday, SC broke its silence on mounting calls of lawyers for the High Court to take measures to address the series of killing of lawyers and other concerns raised before it by stakeholders in the legal circle.
It announced several measures it would be implementing in response to the plea of the parties in the Antiterrorism Act of 2020 (ATA), the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law, and the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG).
Among the measures are deliberation on the possibility of including a provision on its Rules of Procedure that would regulate the conduct of buy-bust operations in the enforcement of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act and promulgation of rules on the use of body cameras for the service of search and arrest warrants to prevent speculations of extrajudicial killings.
The Court also compelled all lower courts and various law enforcement offices to furnish it with relevant information to shed light on the number and context of each and every threat or killing of a lawyer or judge within the past 10 years.
Attention ‘fellow lawyer’ Duterte
SENATE Resolution 691 prods President Duterte, also a lawyer, to “undertake the necessary steps in ensuring the safety of the members of the legal profession.”
The Senate Resolution noted that “the brazen acts of violence against lawyers send a chilling message to the members of the bench and the bar who, in the performance of their responsibilities to the society as administrators of justice, should be able to exercise their sworn duties and represent their clients or dispense justice without threats, persecution and fear for their safety and their lives.”
At the same time, the lawyer-senators prodded President Duterte to “undertake the necessary steps in ensuring the safety of the members of the legal profession by laying out definitive solutions and actions to address such rampant violence and killings, including the prompt, impartial and efficient investigation and prosecution of the cases.”
We welcome the en banc statement of the Honorable Supreme Court on the safety and security of lawyers and judges. It is deeply appreciated. We are pleased and grateful that a number of the suggestions and recommendations of the IBP are being acted upon.
IBP President Domingo Egon Cayosa