Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Monday directed the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a thorough investigation into yesterday’s attack against a lady prosecutor in Oriental Mindoro.
Guevarra issued the order after Provincial Prosecutor Josephine Caranto-Olivar was shot Monday morning while entering her house. She sustained five gunshot wounds—two in the head and three in the body.
“She’s still in the hospital fighting for her life. We don’t have enough info yet regarding the possible motive,” Guevarra said, in a text message to reporters.
“I have instructed the NBI, through Director [Dante] Gierran and the regional director, to immediately gather the evidence and conduct a thorough investigation,” Guevarra added.
Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete said the prosecutor will undergo a CT scan for the wounds she sustained and will have to undergo surgery.
This incident prompted Guevarra to make an urgent call for the incoming 18th Congress to immediately pass the bill providing benefits to the prosecution service.
“Our prosecutors’ lives are always at risk due to the nature of their job. We’re hoping that the new Congress will be more sympathetic to the bill providing survivorship benefits to the prosecution service,” Guevarra said.