Lawyers denounce colleague’s slay in Muntinlupa

MANILA, Philippines — A group of lawyers on Sunday condemned “in the strongest possible terms the treacherous and cowardly killing” of its member, Jesus Acpal, who was gunned down by unidentified men outside his house in Muntinlupa City.

“An attack against the members of the Philippine Bar demoralizes lawyers from performing their sworn duty. It hinders the lawyers, prosecutors and judges’ efforts toward an effective, efficient and equitable administration of justice,” the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Pasay-Parañaque-Las Piñas-Muntinlupa (IBP-PPLM) chapter said in a statement.

According to a Muntinlupa police report, Acpal, a 68-year-old retired police colonel, had just arrived with his son at their house in Katarungan Village, Barangay Poblacion, when he was shot by two men around 1 a.m. on Sept. 21.

The lawyer died on the spot with the police later recovering 11 casings from a .45-caliber pistol.

Investigators, however, have yet to determine the motive for the attack.

The IBP-PPLM called on the police, the National Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies to conduct a “prompt, independent, full-scale and effective investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice.”

Acpal’s murder came two days after the IBP observed Law Day and prayed for the safety and protection of its members.