ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines—Even as the judiciary is still shocked by the Feb. 28 killing of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Reynerio Estacio Sr., a retired state prosecutor was gunned down in Indanan town, Sulu province, on Monday.
“It gives a chilling effect to everyone in the judiciary. We are angered and saddened with the killing of Judge Estacio, and we are saddened by another killing of a lawyer in Sulu,” RTC Executive Judge Peter Eisma told the Inquirer on Tuesday.
Retired prosecutor Issan Sawadjaan and his brother Mac Issan, an employee of the Bureau of Customs, were shot dead by unidentified men in Kajatian village in Indanan, said Senior Supt. Abraham Orbita, Sulu provincial police chief.
“The suspects approached and talked to them, and then shot them,” Orbita said.
Both residents of this city, the brothers went to Indanan to bury a sister.
Emil Aquino, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Zambasulta (Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi), called on authorities to solve the killings, saying “it’s a big blow to the judiciary system.”
Estacio was the first RTC judge killed in Zamboanga City and the 24th in the country. Before his death, he handled many controversial cases involving politicians, suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits and policemen.
Eisma said the judiciary would be meeting with the police on how to secure other lawyers and judges, “knowing that anytime, killers can easily put down their targets.”
Aquino said the police had leads as to the killers of Estacio. He refused to elaborate.