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Philippines

Authorities eye work-related motive in the killing of human rights lawyer in South Cotabato

Philippines

Authorities eye work-related motive in the killing of human rights lawyer in South Cotabato

By Joseph Jubelag

KORONADAL CITY, SOUTH COTABATO- Authorities are eyeing a work-related angle as a possible motive in the killing of a human rights lawyer in Surallah, South Cotabato last September 15.

Surallah Mayor Antonio Bendita said police authorities are collating pieces of evidence and witnesses that will substantiate the filing of criminal charges against the perpetrators in the killing of lawyer Juan Macababbad.

Macababbad was gunned down by motorcycle-riding gunmen outside his house in Zone 4, Surallah town around 5 p.m. last September 15.

Bendita said local police investigators had already taken the testimony of a possible witness who claimed he saw an unidentified woman packing a handgun who hurriedly left the crime scene aboard a motorcycle after the victim was killed.

The victim succumbed to multiple bullet wounds.

Bendita said local police authorities are set to provide protection to the witness who will testify in the killing of Mcababbad, a member of the National Union of People’s Lawyer, a left-leaning human rights group.

Bendita, who is himself a lawyer, said he was disheartened with the murder of a colleague and a constituent.

He said the killing could had something to do with his work as a human rights lawyer.

The killing of Macababbad was first case of a lawyer murdered in South Cotabato in the last three decades.

Macababbad was the 65th lawyer killed in the country since 2016.

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