Lawyers seem to back out from vigilante case

The Cebu City chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines seemed to be backing out from the cause it started to bring those responsible for the spate of summary killings in the city to the bar of justice.

Lawyer Alex Tolentino suddenly showed disinterest in the case when asked by reporters yesterday what would be the role of IBP once the National Bureau of Investigation would file a case following the information he submitted to the bureau last Monday.

Tolentino said they will not volunteer as private prosecutors and would rather wait for the offended party to seek the IBP's assistance.

A source told The Freeman that the IBP members, especially those who are vocal against suspected vigilante killings, are now concerned for their security.

Tolentino, however, said they are not threatened by the possibility that those vigilantes will get back at them. "Ever since wa man gyud ta mahadlok."

But Tolentino admitted that he is now doubly careful of his security in his effort to gather evidence against those suspected vigilantes, saying that his friends, including Vice Mayor Michael Rama, have warned him to be careful.

Tolentino said that Rama and his other friends in the legal profession called him up two weeks ago and cautioned him about the security risk that he has gotten into.

Tolentino did not give more information on the dossier that he submitted to the NBI but said the public should just wait for the result of the investigation.

He, however, said the information he gave includes anything that would give the NBI a lead in its investigation. But NBI regional director Medardo de Lemos described the information given to them as "very raw" that needs to be evaluated.

De Lemos said the three-page information that Tolentino submitted last Monday morning contained the names of the alleged vigilantes and possible witnesses.

The information also narrated some of the over 200 summary executions in the city since 2004 that could help in the prosecution of the culprits. - Fred P. Languido