Don’t shoot lawyers–IBP

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) on Friday reiterated its condemnation of the killing of lawyers, days after the legal counsel of suspected drug lord Rolando “Kerwin” Espinosa Jr. was gunned down.

In a statement, the IBP said a strong and effective legal profession is “one of the best safeguards against chaos and anarchy in a democratic society.”

Rogelio Bato Jr. and a minor female companion were killed in Tacloban City Tuesday afternoon after being fired upon by unidentified men. Police have yet to determine if the ambush was related to the drug cases handled by the lawyer.

The country’s mandatory bar organization said subjecting lawyers under the threat of violence for doing their job would erode the rule of law.

“Thus, when lawyers are made to live under threat of violence and even murder for performing their sworn functions, the rule of law is seriously degraded and those intending to subvert the law can do so with impunity,” the statement read.

The IBP also appealed to the Philippine National Police, the National Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies to seriously pursue the investigation of many unresolved killings of lawyers and judges.

The IBP issued this statement after reporters sought its comment on Bato’s death. The statement did not mention Bato’s name nor made references to his killing.

Espinosa’s father, Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., showed up at the PNP headquarters in Quezon City on Aug. 2, after President Duterte gave him a 24-hour deadline to “surrender.” He went back to work last week.

The mayor denied any involvement in his son’s alleged drug trade and made a plea for him to surrender.