MANILA, Philippines — The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) condoled on Monday with the bereaved family of slain lawyer and councilor bet Reginald Michael Manito.
Manito was shot dead by two unidentified men in his office in Barangay Poblacion 1, Sto. Tomas City in Batangas last February 17.
The group stressed that the bereaved family, friends, and clients were shocked, saddened, and depressed with the incident.
“Nakapanlulumong isipin na sa halip na papuri at pasasalamat ang ibigay kay Atty. Manito, dalawang bala sa kanyang ulo ang isinukli sa kanyang buong pusong pagtugon sa banal na tungkuling ito,” the IBP said in a statement.
(It is depressing to think that instead of giving praises and thanks to Atty. Manito, two bullets were planted in his head for his whole-hearted response in this holy duty.)
The IBP said that upholding the rights of those oppressed is not a sin, but a holy duty.
“Hindi kasalanan ang ipagtanggol ng abogado ang karapatan ng mga naaapi lalung-lalo na ang mga biktima na walang kakayahan makakuha ng abogado,” the IBP stated.
(Defending the rights of the oppressed is not a sin, especially if the victims do not have the capability to get a lawyer.)
“Bagkus, ito’y isang banal na tungkulin na dapat niyang gampanan sa Diyos, sa hukuman at sa propesyon na kanyang sinumpaan,” the group added.
(Instead, this is a holy duty which should be fulfilled for God, for the court, and the profession he swore in.)
According to the IBP, Manito left his pregnant wife and their three kids.
The death toll of slain lawyers, fiscals, and judges since the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte started in 2016 stood at 70, the IBP said.
In an earlier statement, the group noted that the number of lawyers killed since 2016 soared by 500 percent.
The Duterte administration has recorded more killed lawyers compared to previous chief executives, the National Union of People’s Lawyers previously said.
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