Senator Richard Gordon on Monday urged the Philippine National Police to take prompt action and arrest the lone gunman in the broad daylight murder of a Zamboanga del Norte judge, the 30th judge to be killed since 1999.
The chairman of the Senate justice committee said the culture of violence and impunity must be stopped immediately.
“That’s why perhaps we ought to find our way clear on looking for solutions to, once and for all, try and get the killers who are faceless and who could put their dastardly activities painfully in the hearts of our citizens,” said Gordon.
“Dead men tell no tales. That’s why I have always stood up for people who are killed, such as judges,” he added.
If the public officials are not safe in this country and cannot find justice in this country, Gordon asked, “what more with the common man, with the common tao? How will the people get justice if the very people who dispense justice in our country are killed and could not get justice, themselves? “
Gordon assailed the killing of Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte Regional Trial Court Judge Reymar Lacaya, who was shot dead in the parking lot of the justice hall by a still unidentified gunman who later fled on foot before boarding a motorcycle.
Gordon said that the Constitution mandates that our government ensure rule of law.
He said that if the rule of law is undertaken judiciously in a fair and fast manner, then citizens would not feel the need to take matters into their own hands through extra-legal means and so the culture of violence and impunity would subside if not stop.
He also called on the Land Transportation Office to hasten drafting the Implementing Rules and Regulations and implement Republic Act 11235 or the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act of 2019.
He believes that this can help avert crimes perpetrated by riding-in-tandem criminals.
He added that this will also do justice to the riding-in-tandem victims by limiting the way people can get away with riding without license plates and riding with stolen motorcycles.