Lawyer escapes slay try in Davao City

Published @ 1:33 p.m., Sept. 26, 2018 | Updated @ 11:40 p.m., Sept. 26, 2018

DAVAO CITY — A lawyer survived an attack by gunmen on a motorcycle outside the Hall of Justice here early on Wednesday, two days after another lawyer was gunned down in neighboring Davao del Norte province.

Wilmer Donasco, 44, was about to park his car on Candelaria Street at Ecoland when the gunmen approached and shot him. The bullets did not pierce through the car, but shards from the windshield hit him, police said.

The attack came after the murder of Tagum City-based lawyer Connie Villamor on Monday, but police said they were not related.

READ: Personal grudge, work-related issue seen in Tagum lawyer’s killing

Condemnation

The association of lawyers in Davao on Tuesday condemned the attack on Villamor.

“An attack against any lawyer is an attack on the legal profession itself as it undermines the independence of lawyers,” Rogelio Largo, Davao City chapter president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, said in a statement.

“The brazenness of the attack, done in broad daylight near the Hall of Justice and police offices, makes the incident even more alarming,” Largo said.

Probe

He said lawyers needed an environment “that is conducive to the legal practice—an environment where we only worry about the results of the cases, and not about our safety or security or that of our loved ones.”

“[The attack] also demoralizes lawyers in advocating for the causes of their clients. It compromises the quality of their service,” Largo said as he called on lawyers to “remain firm, united and committed to dispense justice and uphold the rule of law.”

Senior Supt. Allan Manibog, Davao del Norte police chief, said a special investigation task group had been formed to look into the attack.

Villamor, 38, was heading to Maco town, Compostela Valley, on her sport utility vehicle when she was attacked at past 8 a.m. on Monday, police said.

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate condemned the spate of killings of lawyers and civilians in Mindanao, which is under martial law.

“These killings belie the narrative that Mindanao is safer under a state of martial law,” Zarate said.  /lb /pdi /atm