Northern Samar judge shot dead inside cockpit

MANILA, Philippines - A municipal trial court judge in Laoang, Northern Samar was shot dead inside a cockpit in Pambujan town Sunday afternoon.

Judge Reynaldo Espinar, 53, was killed barely two weeks after the murder of a Bulacan judge. Espinar was the fourth court official killed in the country this year.

Espinar died at the scene from gunshots to the head and body, police said.

Police investigators have yet to identify the judge’s assailant, who was gunned down by his security escort, retired Army member Wilfredo Saromenes, after the attack.

Sr. Insp. Mark Nalda, spokesman for the Eastern Visayas police, said the incident occurred at around 5 p.m. at the Padcor cockpit in Pambujan town.

Nalda said the suspect tried to escape but was chased and shot dead by Saromenes.

Police said Espinar had been receiving death threats since last year.

Espinar had survived an ambush by three men who pretended to be applicants seeking court clearance in May.

Northern Samar police director Sr. Supt. Daniel Mayoni said about two months ago, Espinar was on a motorcycle going to the Laoang municipal hall when an unidentified man shot him.

“Judge Espinar escaped death because he was wearing a bulletproof vest at the time,” Mayoni said.

Police investigators are still establishing the motive for the killing, although initial information indicated that the gunman was a member of the New People’s Army.

SC condemns slays

The Supreme Court (SC) condemned the latest killing of a member of the judiciary.

“The killing of judges represents the ultimate shortcut and an affront to the rule of law. Killing of judges not only threatens other judges in the performance of their functions, but it also undermines the neutral environment so essential for fair and evenhanded decision-making,” the high court said.

The SC called on the police to “take the necessary steps with deliberate speed to do justice for Judge Espinar by fully investigating his killing.”

Espinar was the fourth court official to be killed this year. Court interpreter Ibnohajar Puntukan of Shariah court in Jolo, Sulu was killed on March 4. Judge Erwin Alaba was shot dead in Baler, Aurora on Sept. 1 and Malolos RTC Judge Wilfredo Nieves on Nov. 11.