Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar ordered on Thursday, September 16, a thorough investigation on the killing of a lawyer in South Cotabato.
Based on the report from the South Cotabato PPO, Atty. Juan Gammad Macababbad, 68, was shot dead by three unidentified gunmen in front of his house in Brgy Libertad, Surallah, South Cotabato on Wednesday afternoon.
He suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was declared dead in the hospital.
“The Philippine National Police joins the legal community and the Filipino people in condemning the killing of a lawyer in South Cotabato. Kasabay ng pagkondena dito ay ang aking kautusan sa RD, PRO12 na tutukan ang kasong ito upang mapanagot ang mga taong nasa likod nito at maibigay ang nararapat na hustisya kay Atty. Macababbad at sa kanyang pamilya,” said PGen Eleazar.
The gunmen fled after the incident using a motorcycle and are now the subject of the follow-up operation by the local police.
PGen Eleazar said he expects the local police to focus on the case to determine the motive and likewise identify in the soonest possible time those responsible, including the possible mastermind.
The Chief PNP also ordered the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management to check on the status of other cases involving members of the legal community as victims.
“I also ordered the Director, DIDM to check on the status of the cases of all the lawyers who were killed at least in the last five years in order to expedite the investigation on those which remain unsolved,” said PGen Eleazar.
“Walang lugar sa ating bansa ang mga ganitong uri ng karahasan at ang mabilis na aksyon ng PNP upang malutas ang mga kasong ito at iba pang krimen ay nagsisilbing crime deterrent dahil naipapakita natin na hindi kailanman malulusutan ang lahat ng uri ng paglabag sa batas,” the Chief PNP added. (PNP-PIO) -rir
