The Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to release its inventory of cases on lawyers killed under the administration of President Duterte.
The inventory will include cases under investigation by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), under preliminary investigation by the prosecution service, and those undergoing trial in courts, Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said on Tuesday, March 9.
The Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) said last Monday, March 8, there has been a total of 61 lawyers, including prosecutors and magistrates, who have been killed since 2016.
Guevarra said he has informed Domingo Egon Q. Cayosa, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), on the release of the inventory.
“We agreed to work closely on this matter,” he said.
Last Jan. 13, the Department of Justice, IBP and Supreme Court (SC) representatives met and discussed the spate of killings and assaults on lawyers and judges.
The meeting came up with an agreement to come up with measures to enhance the security and safety of lawyers and members of the judiciary.
The release of the inventory was prompted by the assault last March 3 in Iloilo City of lawyer Angelo Karlo Guillen, who represents several petitioners in the cases that challenged before the SC the constitutionality of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) of 2020.
Guillen survived the attack which was condemned, not only by several lawyers’ groups, but also by the several legislators and the Commission on Human Rights.
The President has directed the police and other law enforcement agencies to track down Guillen’s attackers.