Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel is batting for the creation of marshals to protect judges.
Pimentel filed House Bill 5403 to establish the Office of the Philippine Marshals Service under the Supreme Court.
“This is in response to Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta’s call for a marshals service for the judiciary,” he said.
“Right now, every active judge is a sitting duck with absolutely no protection whatsoever against potential attacks,” he added.
The proposed measure came following the Nov. 5 assassination of Tagudin, Ilocos Sur Regional Trial Court Branch 25 Judge Mario Anacleto Bañez.
On May, Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte RTC Judge Reymar Lacaya, and the 31st member of the judiciary were slain.
Under Pimentel’s bill, the marshals service shall be headed by a director to be appointed by the Chief Justice.
A marshal shall be a bachelor’s degree holder, and at least 21 years old but not older than 35.
“We cannot allow these brazen attacks on judges to go on without a forceful answer,” said Pimentel.
“Our judges deserve strong protection considering they have become increasingly vulnerable to aggression and violence, presumably from disgruntled and hateful litigants.”
Earlier, Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta has denounced the killing of Banez, the 31st judge killed since January 1999.
Peralta has urged law enforcement agencies to leave no stone unturned in their probe to arrest Banez’ killers.
Bañez was attacked while he was on his way home in La Union and was declared dead on arrival at the Lorna Hospital in San Fernando City.
“On behalf of the Judiciary, I strongly condemn the killing of Regional Trial Court Judge Mario Anacleto Bañez of Tagudin, Ilocos Sur,” Peralta had said in a statement.
Peralta also condoled with the family of the slain judge.
Peralta then called for the establishment of a US Marshals Service-type agency to protect judges and justices.
Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez said that of the 31 cases of judges killed since 1999, only five had been resolved so far.