SC outraged by attack on RTC judge in Butuan

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court on Saturday, September 24, urged authorities to track down those responsible for the attack on  a regional trial court judge and his police escort in Butuan City.

In a statement, the High Court expressed its “outrage and concern” over the attempt on the life of Judge Hector Salise of the Regional Trial Court of Bayugan City, Branch 7.

“The Court condemns in the strongest terms attempts to subvert the rule of law through silencing of judges and calls on the authorities concerned to take all necessary steps with all deliberate speed to fully investigate this attempt on Judge Salise and to prevent any such recurrences,” it said.

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and the SC Associate Justices also expressed their concern for the wounding of Salise’s police escort, Senior Police Officer 1 Edmund Narvasa.

Salise, who was shot in the head, remains in intensive care.

ABS-CBN News reported that Salise and his police escort, who were in the judge’s vehicle, were attacked by 5 suspects who were on board a sports utility vehicle on Friday, September 23.

The report said despite being shot as well and though their car had a flat tire, Narvasa managed to drive the vehicle 7 kilometers to the nearest police station to seek assistance.

The security and protection of the country’s trial court judges has been a continuing concern for the High Court. (READ: A cry for justice)

In November 2015, Bulacan Regional Trial Court Branch 84 Presiding Judge Wilfredo Nieves was gunned down by unknown assailants as he headed home from work. Two months before that, Baler Regional Trial Court Branch 91 Presiding Judge Jude Erwin Alaba was shot dead in his own court room by an unidentified gunman.  – Rappler.com