The Integrated Bar of the Philippines on Sunday denounced the killing of Assistant City Prosecutor Edilbert Mendoza in front of his house in Barangay Cabuco, Cavite last December 31.
The IBP through national president Burt Estrada branded Mendoza’s murder by a still unidentified gunman as “treacherous and cold-blooded” as it called on the government and other stakeholders to come up with a collective effort the members of the judiciary.
“The IBP once again calls for a nationwide effort to protect our lawyers and judges. We cannot ignore the disturbing and increasing frequency of lawyer killings. We will not stand idly by and watch as many more of our brethren are attacked and murdered,” Estrada said, in a statement.
The mandatory lawyers’ organization noted that Mendoza is the 66thlawyer killed during President Duterte’s administration.
The IBP vowed to assist in, and monitor the investigation and prosecution of the victim’s case.
It added that the organization will coordinate with the Supreme Court, Department of Justice (DOJ), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to address the increasing attacks on the members of the judiciary.
The IBP also called on PNP and other law enforcement agencies to come up and immediately implement specific measures to improve the security of lawyers, judges, and prosecutors and to expeditiously resolve its investigations on these killings to hold accountable their perpetrators.
Earlier, the DOJ directed the NBI to conduct an investigation and case build-up in connection with Mendoza’s killing.
“The tragic death of ACP Mendoza clearly demonstrates the risk to life that our prosecutors face in the performance of their duties. I have directed the NBI to immediately join in the manhunt and apprehension of the perpetrators of this treacherous crime,” DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra said.