Lawyers protest in Surigao over murder of colleague, retired judge

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)-Surigao del Norte chapter has decided to withdraw their representation on drug cases in their jurisdiction to protest the killing of retired Surigao city judge Victor Canoy early this week and the assassination attempt against Surigao city prosecutor Manuel Tesiorna Monday.

“We are protesting the shallow understanding of the legal process, which prompted the accusation of our colleagues as alleged drug coddlers and protectors because of the drug cases that have been dismissed in their respective officers. We withdraw our representation from all drug cases starting today until all perpetrators are apprehended. We will not be able to do our jobs if our lives and the lives of our families are in peril,” said the statement signed by its chapter president Atty. Noel Pangilinan.

The group said they took such action to call the attention of the authorities to the threats they and their families are receiving since some of them started handling drug-related cases.

They added that as part of their protest, they will conduct a motorcade from the IBP Building in Parola, Surigao City which will culminate in a rally and a brief program to be held at the city’s Luneta Park on Thursday.

The 70-year-old Canoy whose last position in the judiciary before retiring was as regional trial court judge of Branch 29 in Surigao City was shot dead by riding-in-tandem suspects last February 2.

READ: Surigao City prosecutor who got death threats, shot, wounded

Tesiorna, on the other hand, was attacked by a motorcycle-riding gunman outside the gate of his house in Canlanipa Homes, Surigao City on Monday morning while he was washing his car.

READ: Surigao City prosecutor critical after gun attack

He sustained gunshot wounds in his chest, neck and back and remained in critical condition at a hospital in Cebu City where he was airlifted. RAM