Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta on Wednesday night, November 11, ordered Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez “to employ stricter measures to prevent incidents” like the killing of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Maria Teresa S. Abadilla right in her office at the Manila City hall.
Judge Abadilla was shot in the head by her clerk of court, Atty. Amador B. Rebato who, reportedly shot himself thereafter.
She was declared dead at 3:15 p.m. at the Medical Center Manila where she was rushed after the shooting.
The late judge used to work as law clerk in the Supreme Court (SC) before her appointment to the RTC.
In a statement, Chief Justice Peralta said:
“It is with deep sadness that I learned this afternoon about the killing of Judge Maria Teresa Abadilla, presiding judge of RTC Branch 45 of Manila.
“The passing of Judge Abadilla is indeed a big loss to the Judiciary because I personally know her to be an upright and highly competent magistrate.
“She was a law clerk in the Supreme Court for more than a decade before becoming an RTC Judge.
“I know very well her family as we come from the same province.
“I offer my sincerest condolences to the mother, Manang Susan Samonte Abadilla, and the siblings of Judge Abadilla and all her friends.
“Although there are currently security protocols in place in all our courthouses, I have directed the Court Administrator to employ stricter measures to prevent incidents like these from happening again.”
The late judge also worked in the offices of retired Chief Justices Lucas P. Bersamin and Teresita J. Leonardo de Castro.
In a statement, Bersamin said:
“I am much saddened by the tragic killing of Judge Teresa S. Abadilla right in her workplace. She was like family to me and my wife. She was a hardworking judge.
“Her death, which was senseless, diminishes us all. I condole with the Abadilla family, and we pray that their profound grief over the tragedy be tempered by the thought that we share their irreparable loss."