Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta on Friday said police authorities are looking at two drug cases handled by slain Tagudin Regional Trial Court Judge Mario Anacleto Bañez in determining the possible motive for his death.
"Judge Bañez's [death] had nothing to do with search warrant. Based on the papers, he acquitted a drug lord and received death threats because of that. That is what we heard," Peralta said, in his first press conference as chief magistrate.
"I think it is more on the drugs—one was convicted, the other one [drug case] was about to be terminated so they [police] are concentrating on investigating on these two drug cases," he added.
Last Tuesday, Bañez was shot to death by unidentified assailant along Barangay Mameltac in the City of San Fernando in La Union. Rey E. Requejo
His death came a day after a senior military official urged the Supreme Court to investigate judges who dismiss cases against activists.
In a ruling rendered in September, Bañez acquitted Ibaloy activist Rachel Mariano of murder and frustrated murder charges filed by the military.
Bañez is the fifth active judge killed since 2017. The other judges include Butuan City Regional Trial Court Judge Godofredo Abul Jr. on Aug. 5, 2017; Presentacion Camarines Sur Municipal Trial Court Judge Ricky Regino, June 12, 2018; Ozamiz City RTC Edmudo Pintac, Oct. 8, 2018; and Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte RTC Branch 28 Judge Reymar Lacaya, May 10, 2019.