Ozamiz City judge handling Parojinog cases shot dead

MANILA, Philippines — Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro on Monday evening confirmed the death of an Ozamiz City judge and called on police to apprehend his killers as soon as possible.

In a press statement, De Castro said: "The Court is deeply saddened with the news that the executive judge of the Regional Trial Court of Ozamiz City, Hon. Edmundo P. Pintac, was shot to death on his way home today."

Pintac, who had been an RTC judge for 15 years, had been handling drugs and firearms cases against Nova Princess Parojinog and Reynaldo Parojinog Jr, who were arrested in simultaneous raids against the clan in late July 2017. 

He had denied the Parojinogs' request last year to attend the wake of attend the wake of their parents and other family members killed in the anti-drug operations.

"I'm calling on the Philippine National Police to exert all means and efforts to apprehend the perpetrators at the soonest possible time. I have also instructed the court administrator to coordinate with all law enforcement officers to bring to justice those responsible for this crime," the chief justice also said.

"Our prayers and sympathies go out to the family of Judge Pintac. May they find strength in this moment of grief," De Castro also said. — with Kristine Joy Patag