With 22 ‘’yes’’ votes and one abstention, the Senate approved on Monday, Nov. 8 a bill seeking to create the office of the Judiciary Marshals on third and final reading.
The Judiciary Marshals shall lead in the investigation of killings and other crimes against judges, lawyers and all those in the Judiciary.
The measure, Senate Bill 1947, was endorsed by the Senate Justice and Human Rights committee chaired by Senator Richard J. Gordon. The Judiciary Marshals shall be under the Supreme Court.
The marshals shall lead in the investigation of crimes against those in the Judiciary but in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP) or the National. Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
The High Tribunal or the Court Administrator could also direct the marshals to investigate irregularities in the Judicial branch such as corruption.
The Supreme Court shall also appoint Judiciary Marshals in Luzon, the Visayas and in Mindanao.
The bill allotted P50 million for the salaries of personnel and office supplies of these marshals. Gordon had complained of the increasing number of judges and lawyers being killed in different parts of the archipelago.