MANILA – The recent killings of lawyers and judges in the country alarmed President Rodrigo Duterte as the government vowed a swift and thorough investigation to the attacks.
According to Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, the President already issued directives to concerned law enforcement authorities to pursue the offenders in the attacks.
“Nagbigay na siya ng order na ang ating kapulisan, ang ating [National Bureau of Investigation], ay magkaroon ng mabilisan at thorough na imbestigasyon sa patayang nangyayari,” Roque said on Thursday.
“Dating piskal din ang Presidente at siya ay nababahala sa mga kapwa niya abogado na inaatake,” he added. “Syempre kapag inatake mo ang mga abogado ay pag-atake na din iyon sa rule of law.”
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court (SC) condemned the continuous attacks on lawyers and judges.
“We do not and will not tolerate such acts that only perverse justice, defeat the rule of law, undermine the most basic of constitutional principles, and speculate on the worth of human lives,” SC said.
“To threaten our judges and our lawyers is no less than an assault on the judiciary. To assault the judiciary is to shake the very bedrock on which the rule of law stands. This cannot be allowed in a civilized society like ours. This cannot go undenounced on the court’s watch,” it added.
The Malacañang supported the strongly-worded position of the SC magistrates as the executive department vowed to implement the law to give justice to slayed lawyers and judges.
“Dahil po tayo ay nasa ehekutibo, ang pangako naman ng ating Presidente ay kanyang ipapatupad ang mga batas at inatasan ang Department of Justice na tututukan ang pagpapatay sa mga abogado,” said Roque./PN
