Senate to probe killings of judges, lawyers

The Senate will resume its investigation into the murders of judges, lawyers and other legal professionals that have earned the Philippines a reputation as "the most dangerous place for lawyers and judges," Sen. Manuel Villar said yesterday.

Villar, chairman of the Senate committee on public order, resumed the hearings in the wake of the killing of Pasay City Judge Henrick Gingoyon in Bacoor, Cavite on New Year’s eve.

"We have conducted a few public hearings on the deaths of lawyers and legal professionals last year. Given the recent ambush-slay of (Gingoyon) and the perceived threats to the lives of lawyers and judges, my committee would continue the public hearings on the issue," Villar said.

Villar earlier filed Senate Resolution 267 directing his committee to conduct an investigation into the findings of Netherlands-based International Association of People’s Lawyers (IAPL) that ranked the Philippines as the most dangerous place for lawyers and judges.

The IAPL report was issued in the wake of murders of three lawyers and a law student in the country last year — Felidito Dacut, Teresita Vidamo, Ambrosio Matias and Leonard Matias.

In March 2005, there was also an assassination attempt on human rights lawyerRomeo Capulong. In 2004, four lawyers and three judges were also murdered.

In his Senate resolution, Villar said "a society where there is no rule of law and no one skilled in applying the law is a chaotic society where the weakest among us have no chance and the strongest among us have no restraint."

Villar added that the rule of law is the backbone of a democratic, peaceful and orderly society. He also said an efficient and trustworthy judiciary is the true guardian of freedom and the last line of defense against tyranny.

"These attacks against lawyers and judges are attacks against the legal profession as they impact on the independence and integrity of the practice of law," he said. "The government needs to immediately address the escalating violence against members of the legal profession, spearhead an investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice."

Villar said his committee has still not concluded its hearings on the murder of legal professionals. A legislative inquiry into the unsolved murders of journalists is also ongoing.

The senator also acknowledged that media practitioners and legal professionals, as protectors of truth and justice, need protection.