Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta said on Wednesday the Supreme Court (SC) has been coordinating with various government agencies, particularly the Department of Justice (DOJ) and law enforcement agencies, in the investigation of the killings of judges and lawyers in the country and in the prosecution of the perpetrators.

Peralta said SC’s Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez and other officials have had several meetings with the DOJ, the Department of National Defense (DND), the Department of Interior and Local Governments (DILG), the Commission on Human Rights, law enforcement agencies, and lawyers’ organizations on the issue of killings of lawyers and judges.

Based on the report of Marquez, Peralta said there was a meeting last January 8 with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), Philippine Bar Association, and the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL).

The report also stated that there was a meeting last January 11 with the DOJ and its agencies, the prosecutors’ league, and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to address the killings.

The two meetings were followed up with representatives from the DND, DILG, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), Marquez also reported.

Last January 13, the SC met with judges and other court officials, Peralta said.

The Chief Justice said he has directed Marquez to submit a full report with measures to address the killings.

Published reports stated that more than 30 trial court judges have been killed the past several years. Since 2016, a total of 54 lawyers have been slain.

The practice of law by the country’s lawyers, as officers of the court, are under the supervision of the SC.

On Wednesday morning, Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said the DOJ will closely monitor cases concerning slain lawyers, prosecutors, and judges.

Guevarra said the DOJ “will come up with an inventory of cases under investigation by the NBI, under preliminary investigation by the prosecution service, and undergoing trial in courts for the purpose of monitoring closely their progress.”

He said the monitoring of cases and other issues “such as providing greater protection to law practitioners, prosecutors, and judges will be tackled in subsequent joint activities with the IBP.”

On the security and protection of the members of the judiciary and court personnel, Peralta reiterated his plea to Congress for the immediate passage of the bill creating the Philippine Judiciary Marshal Service (PJMS) to protect judiciary members who have been targets of violent crimes.

“We really need our Judiciary Marshal Service because the Supreme Court (SC) cannot give adequate security,” Peralta said.

“An attack on our judges is an assault on the Rule of Law.  This has no place in a civilized society like ours,” Peralta said in his online meeting with journalists in October last year.

“We want a security marshal so we would have the power to investigate and file cases before the courts, and the investigation will be faster,” he said.

As envisioned by the bills’ proponents in Congress, the PJMS will be an independent, professional, and organized security force that will protect and defend judges, justices, court officials, and employees against any form of threats and violence.