Supreme Court, DOJ take steps vs lawyers’ slays

The Supreme Court and the Department of Justice (DOJ) would separately conduct an inventory of all cases on lawyers slain in the country in a bid to stop the killings, officials said on Wednesday.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said that DOJ officials met with representatives of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) on Jan. 13 after the group sought institutional action.

A total of 56 lawyers, judges and public prosecutors have been murdered since 2016, with lawyer Winston Intong in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon province, the latest victim.

Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez said he had a similar dialogue with the IBP, the National Union of People’s Lawyers and the Philippine Bar Association as ordered by Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta.

“We are now drafting our report to be submitted to (the Chief Justice) who instructed us to meet with all stakeholders and find ways on how this (problem) can be addressed,” Marquez said.