IBP to police: Hunt down those behind QC fiscal’s murder

The vehicle of QC Assistant Prosecutor Rogelio Velasco, who was ambushed along Holy Spirit Drive, Quezon City. INQUIRER file photo

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) has called on the police to do their jobs and find the people behind the murder of Quezon City Deputy Prosecutor Rogelio Velasco.

“We call upon the authorities to do their jobs and hold to account the perpetrators of this dastardly act against Prosecutor Velasco,” the IBP through its President Atty. Abdiel Dan Elijah S. Fajardo said Tuesday.

Velasco was killed in an ambush last Friday, May 11 while he was driving with his daughter along Holy Spirit Drive in Barangay Holy Spirit at around 4:55 p.m.

“The brazen daylight killing of QC prosecutor Velasco is the latest in a quick succession of murders perpetrated against officers of the Court without any regard to the sanctity of life, and with gross disrespect to their loved ones who will forever be scarred by the violence they had never imagined they would experience first-hand in their lifetime,” Fajardo said.

Velasco is the first prosecutor attacked this year but he was the 7th attacked since October, 2016.

In October 26, 2016, Mati City Prosecutor Rolando Acido was killed outside the Mati City Hall of Justice, then on Jan. 11, 2017, Quezon City Prosecutor Noel Mingoa was shot at close range outside a restaurant along Commonwealth Avenue.

Last February, Surigao City Prosecutor Manuel Navarro Tesiorna was shot outside his house. Tesiorna survived the attack.

In May, 2017, Caloocan City Prosecutor Diosdado Azarcon was shot thrice in the head outside his house along Brgy. 63 Kapas Street in Caloocan while izal Assistant Prosecutor Maria S. Ronatay was ambushed by a motorcycle-riding gunman last July, 2017.

On Sept. 29, 2017, prosecutor Reymund Luna was shot to death along Barangay Tongohin in Infanta, Quezon. /muf