IBP condemns stabbing of human rights lawyer

ILOILO CITY — The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) yesterday condemned the stabbing of human rights lawyer Angelo Karlo Guillen here last Wednesday.

“We, lawyers, only perform the duties we sworn to do and seek to uphold the rule of law regardless who we represent. We are not cowered by a series of attacks against members of the bench and the bar. But we denounce the formative culture of subjecting lawyers to attack for enforcing the rights of the people,” said the IBP-Iloilo Chapter in a statement.

Guillen, assistant vice president for the Visayas of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), was stabbed with a screwdriver on his head at past 9 p.m. after he got out of his vehicle on Gen. Luna St.

Based on CCTV footages, two men wearing facemasks and baseball caps were seen approaching Guillen. One of them stabbed the lawyer. The duo was then picked up by two separate motorcycles and fled.

Guillen has been handling cases of Left-leaning activists and supporters in Iloilo and Panay Island, including those who survived deadly police raids of Panay-Bukidnon indigenous peoples communities in Calinog, Iloilo and Tapaz, Iloilo last Dec. 30.

Guillen was also among those who were arrested last May. He tried to negotiate with police to allow the protest of the killing of activist Jory Porquia even though there was strict lockdown due to the pandemic.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas and Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., both lawyers by profession, condemned the attack against Guillen.

“Lawyers only do their function to protect their clients,” noted Treñas. “We must condemn this act in the strongest possible terms. No reason can justify that,” Defensor added.

Guillen is slowly recovering and in stable condition. He underwent surgery after the Wednesday night attack.