The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) renewed their commitment to address the issues affecting police operations and the protection of the legal community.
Top officials of both parties met on Tuesday at Camp Crame, led by PNP Officer-in- Charge PLtGen. Guillermo Eleazar and IBP President Atty. Domingo Cayosa.
In a joint statement, they both expressed to collaborate in addressing the attacks against judges, prosecutors and members of the legal profession over the past several years.
“Lawyer killing shall be investigated promptly and thoroughly with the suspects subsequently identified, prosecuted and penalized,” Eleazar and Cayosa ensured.
The PNP assured that investigations would be expedited and preferential attention would be given to incidents and cases of violence against members of the legal community.
The Free Legal Assistance Group has earlier reported the killing of 61 lawyers since 2016. FLAG said the number is higher than the total of 28 killed in the past four decades.
For its part, the IBP assured the PNP leadership that legal assistance will be provided to qualified police officers who are unjustly harassed for doing their job.
“The PNP and IBP will collaborate with each other within the parameters of the Lawyer Security and Justice MOA that the two institutions signed in March 2020,” the joint statement expressed. – Bea Bernardo
