Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Thursday said a government committee on extraa-judicial killings (EJKs) is awaiting a report from the police on the killing last September 15 of lawyer Juan Macabadbad, vice chairman of the Union of Peoples’ Lawyers in Mindanao.
“As part of standard procedure, the DOJ (Department of Justice) will await the report of local police investigators and evaluate whether the killing falls under the jurisdiction of the inter-agency committee on EJKs,” Guevarra said, in a text message.
Guevarra chairs the Inter-Agency Committee on Extra-Legal Killings, Enforced Disappearances, Torture and Other Grave Violations of the Right of Life, Liberty and Security of Persons created under Administrative Order No. 35.
The Justice Secretary made the statement following reports that Macabadbad was gunned down by two assailants in front of his house in Surallah, South Cotabato.
In a strongly worded statement, the UPLM has asked the government to conduct a swift investigation and prosecution of those behind the lawyer’s killing.
With Macabadbad’s killing, “the Duterte administration added to its legacy the 58th lawyer and the third National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) member killed during his murderous regime,” UPLM Chairman Antonio Azarcon said in a statement.
“The culture of impunity pervades with the lack of serious investigation and prosecution over thousands of extra-judicial killings in the country,” Azarcon said.
He pointed out that if those in government continue to fail to stop the continued killings of lawyers, “then they should give way to those who have the moral ascendancy to bring back peace and justice to our country.”
Macababbad was the go-to attorney of the impoverished, and he handled criminal and civil cases of the poorest of the poor for free, his colleagues in Mindanao said on Wednesday.
UPLM said it noted that Macababbad had received death threats before the gun attack.
“While the case may go through the usual investigation, as with the other growing number of unresolved cases, it is clear that the murder of Atty. Macababbad is connected to his vocation of lawyering for the people,” Azarcon said.
House Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate also condemned the killing of Macababbad.
Zarate said Macababbad was also a member of Bayan Muna who once sought election as vice-mayor in Surallah, South Cotabato.
“The climate of impunity is growing berserk in the country while President Duterte goes all out in attacking his critics but defending mightily his allies and cronies. Atty. Juan, we believe, was a victim of extrajudicial killing due to his human rights lawyering and firm stand for the oppressed,” Zarate said.
The human rights watchdog Karapatan said Macababbad had served as lawyer for indigenous peoples and teachers in the Soccsksargen region.
Karapatan said he also joined several fact-finding missions, including one pertaining to the massacre of tribal leaders in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato. He also lawyered for political prisoners in the region.
UPLM blamed what it called “the pervading culture of impunity, lack of serious probe and prosecution” of thousands of extrajudicial killings in the country for the murders of these lawyers.
“Our colleagues have become main targets, especially those who resist tyranny and defend human rights,” said Azarcon.