By Kenneth Paciente
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) said that recent attacks against members of the legal profession may adversely impact the country’s justice system.
In today’s Laging Handa briefing, IBP President Domingo Cayosa said these unfortunate events may lead some lawyers and judges “to have doubts in doing their duties.”
“Kapag ito po ay nagtuloy-tuloy baka ho mabagalan ang ating hustisya.” Cayosa said. [If this continues, it’s possible that our justice system will slow down.]
Cayosa also disclosed that they are already monitoring instances where some young lawyers, before accepting clients, are first asking “if the other camp has the capacity to kill.”
“Kami namang mga abogado are trained to be courageous because we take sides, pero ngayon na sunod-sunod ang mga ito, hindi natin maiiwasan na mayroong mga abogado, lalo na ‘yung mga practitioners, ang nangangamba sa kanilang security,” he added.
[We lawyers are trained to be courageous because we take sides, but now that (these attacks) are coming one after the other, it can’t be avoided that some lawyers, especially the practitioners, are fearful for their security.]
The IBP also hailed the recent statement of the Supreme Court en banc condemning these attacks. Cayosa said “it was a very clear signal that these threats and attacks are not being tolerated.”
READ: http://152.42.253.13/sc-condemns-attacks-on-lawyers-judges/
However, the IBP is hoping that following the statement, concrete actions will be taken.
Among the things the IBP has recommended to the authorities is additional police visibility in courts. They are now also coordinating with some local government units to install CCTV cameras in courts as a deterrence against attacks.
IBP data shows there have been 57 members of the legal profession who were killed in the past four years, and over a hundred since the martial law era.
IBP is also now in talks with law enforcement agencies to expedite the cases of killings of lawyers and other members of the judicial sector.
