Duterte signs law creating Office of Judiciary Marshals

FILE PHOTO: REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/Illustration

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a measure establishing an Office of the Judiciary Marshals.

Acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar announced Wednesday that the president signed Republic Act No. 11691. A copy sent to reporters showed that the President signed the measure on April 8.

“Nilagdaan po ni Pangulong Duterte ang Republic Act No. 11691 na lumilikha ng Office of the Judiciary Marshals sa ilalim ng control at supervision ng Supreme Court sa pamamagitan ng Office of the Court Administrator,” he said in a Palace press briefing.

(Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11691 which creates the Office of the Judiciary Marshals under the control and supervision of the Supreme Court through the Office of the Court Administrator.)

“The Office of the Judiciary Marshals shall be primarily responsible for the security, safety, and protection of the members, officials, personnel, and property of the judiciary including the integrity of the courts and its proceedings,” added Andanar.

The Office of the Judiciary will have concurrent jurisdiction with other law enforcement agencies to start probes of crimes and other offenses committed against justices, judges, court officials and personnel, and court properties.

The Integrated Bar Council earlier claimed that the number of lawyers killed under the Duterte administration spiked by 500 percent.

They noted that the number of lawyers killed in the past administrations since 1972 was about 10 for each administration.

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