DOJ forms team to conduct new probe of lawyer’s 2006 slay

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday said a special investigating team (SIT) had been created to conduct a new probe of the killing of Bayan Muna lawyer Gil Gojol and his driver Danilo France in Sorsogon City in 2006.

The creation of the team was recommended by the interagency committee on extralegal killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other grave violations of the right to life, liberty and security of persons created under Administrative Order No. 35, series of 2012, and chaired by Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra.

“SITs are created for new and unsolved [cold] cases. The case of Gojol is among the cold cases included in the AO 35 inventory,” it added.

Gojol and France were killed by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Sorsogon City in December 2006 after attending a hearing at the regional trial court in nearby Gubat town.

A human rights lawyer and counsel of communities affected by mining in Rapu-rapu, Albay, Gojol was a former Sorsogon provincial board member.

DOJ spokesperson Undersecretary Mark Perete told reporters a number of cases would be reinvestigated following the inventory conducted by the interagency committee.