Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra on Sunday, March 14, urged lawyers to report immediately to the authorities threats against their lives.
(TOTO LOZANO / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / FILE PHOTO)
“Sa kanila na din mismo dapat manggaling ang pag-alert or warn sa mga law enforcement or sa DOJ kung may panganib sa kanilang buhay” (They, themselves, have to alert law enforcement authorities or to the Department of Justice that there are threats against them), Guevarra said during a radio interview over DZBB.
Guevarra reiterated he is alarmed by the continued killings of lawyers in the country.
“Nakakabahala na ito dahil masasabi natin na may karamihan ito compared sa mga incidents or violence nag involve sa ibang klase na professionals” (This is already alarming because this is more than the incidents of violence experienced by other professionals), he said.
The Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) has already cited that there are 61 lawyers, including prosecutors and judges, who have been killed since 2016.
Guevarra pointed out that the government cannot possibly monitor the safety of the thousands of lawyers in the country.
“Ang pag-iingat dapat mag-simula sa kanila sa mga abogado mismo” (Precaution should start with the lawyers themselves), he said.
The DOJ, he said has the Witness Protection Program (WPP) which also covers the lawyers as witnesses.
“Bukod sa kanilang mga kliyente, pwede naman silang lumapit sa DOJ para humingi ng protection” (Aside from their clients, the lawyers themselves can ask the DOJ for protection),” he stressed.