BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) condemned the killing of the 62-year-old lawyer Rafael Atotubo.
The SP wants the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), National of Bureau of Investigation and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to fast-track solving the crime.
Motorcycle-riding gunmen fired at Atotubo outside his house on Galo Street in Barangay 20 at around 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, a Police Station 4 report showed.
The lawyer was shot on the head and was pronounced dead at the Bacolod Doctors’ Hospital.
Atotubo – a native of Talisay City, Negros Occidental – is known for his advocacy against abuses and corruption, according to Councilor Caesar Distrito, also a lawyer.
In the text message sent to Panay News, BCPO head Francisco Ebreo said they created a special investigation task group to focus on Atotubo’s case.
The special task group convened 10 a.m. yesterday.
Ebreo added that the empty shells recovered from the crime scene will be subjected for a cross-matching examination to determine if the firearm used by the gunmen were previously used in other crimes.
CCTV footages were also being reviewed, the BCPO head said.
Meanwhile, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)-Negros Occidental Chapter condemned Atotubo’s killing, which it said “demoralizes lawyers from fulfilling their sworn duty.”
The killing also “threatens the independence of lawyers and judges, hindering their pursuit toward the effective administration of justice.”
IBP-Negros Occidental chapter president Atty. Arnel Lapore said Atotubo accepting to represent drug suspects in court has earned the latter his “high respect.”
Lapore added that justice must be served for the “simple and respected” lawyer. (With Ranie Azue/PN)
