PNP vows to protect judiciary members vs threats, intimidation

PNP headquarters in Camp Crame. (FILE PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday vowed to safeguard judiciary members from any form of threat and intimidation.

The PNP made the commitment when former anti-insurgency task force spokesperson Lorraine Badoy threatened Judge Marlo Magdoza-Malagar for rejecting a government petition to outlaw the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA).

READ: Judge attacked online for junking terror tag on CPP-NPA 

“As part of its mandate to serve and protect the public, the PNP assures everyone that it is committed to undertake measures to protect the citizenry, including the members of our judiciary, against threats, intimidation, and crimes, including those perpetrated through the internet and social media platforms,” the PNP said in a statement.

It also recognized the crucial role of the judiciary as an independent branch of government tasked with safeguarding the country’s fundamental rights, settling conflicts, and promoting justice.

“We, therefore, assure the Supreme Court and the public that the PNP will always be on the side of the law and ensures the safety and security of the honorable members of the court to enable them to promulgate decisions without fear of reprisal or retribution,” it added.

Badoy, in a Facebook post on Friday, accused Magdoza-Malagar of “lawyering” for the CPP-NPA when she ruled that rebellion and political crimes are not acts of terrorism.

READ: Lawyers slam Badoy, call on SC to take action 

“So if I kill this judge, and I do so out of my political belief that all allies of the CPP-NPA-NDF [National Democratic Front] must be killed because there is no difference in my mind between a member of the CPP-NPA-NDF and their friends, then please be lenient with me,” she said.

Badoy deleted the post on Saturday, and later denied making such a statement, which she claimed was “fake news.”

The Supreme Court has since warned of punitive action against individuals who “continue to incite violence through social media and other means, which endanger the lives of judges and their families.”

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