Lawyers’ group offers free services to gunned down colleagues

MANILA, Philippines – The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) on Friday, September 4, offered full support and free services to recently gunned down lawyers, expressing outrage over the “senseless killings.”

Judge Jude Erwin Alaba sustained 6 gunshot wounds and died near the court room he presides over last September 2.

Alaba was with his wife about to leave their car, when a still unidentified gunman shot at them near the Baler  Regional Trial Court Branch 91. His wife was wounded but survived.

Initial inventory of Alaba’s cases show he was handling sensitive drug cases and land disputes, said the Supreme Court (SC). A full inventory of the cases pending before Alaba’s sala is underway to help determine if any of them led to his slay.

The SC earlier called for a speedy investigation into Alaba’s death.

Less than 3 weeks earlier on August 13, lawyer Amelie Ocañada Alegre was also shot to death while with fellow lawyer Briccio Joseph Boholst and an accountant. Boholst survived.

“We hereby assure the families of Atty Alegre and Judge Alaba, their friends and the public of our active and full support to the police authorities in their efforts to find and bring the culprits to the bar of justice,” the IBP said in a statement.

Over 200 lawyers have “died by the hands of criminals who have no care and respect for the Rule of Law,” said the IBP, adding that most of the cases have yet to be resolved.

The group also challenged government to ensure peace and order in communities.

“There can be no safer harbor from criminals, where government fails to enforce peace and order and punish criminals,” the group said in a statement. – Buena Bernal/Rappler.com