Thirty-three-year-old Assistant Special Prosecutor Madonna Joy Ednaco-Tanyag was stabbed to death in broad daylight Monday morning. She was five months pregnant and also left behind a two-year-old child.
She was returning to her office after a hearing at the Sandiganbayan when the attack took place.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales has asked the PNP to investigate Tanyag’s killing thoroughly. A suspect has been arrested and is now in police custody, according to the Quezon City Police.
Tanyag was handling several high-profile cases before the graft court, but the police have ruled that robbery was behind her killing.
She is the tenth prosecutor to have been killed since October 2016. Most recently, Quezon City Deputy Prosecutor Rogelio Velasco was shot to death, as was Ozamiz City Prosecutor Geronimo Marabe Jr.
On social media the tributes to Tanyag by those who knew her are poignant. She is described as passionate about national issues, living true to her values and inspiring those around her.
All the other fallen prosecutors also have their own unique and compelling stories that ended with their untimely deaths. In their own way they were advancing a cause simply by doing their jobs well, whatever the risk or cost.
Ten fewer prosecutors means ten fewer warm bodies to take on numerous voluminous cases in our clogged judicial system.
More importantly, ten fallen prosecutors means ten apparent successes for those who kill for perverted reasons, or even for no reason at all.
Wanton disregard for human life is the hallmark of a degenerating society. That attacks should be on agents of the law adds ignominy to the deed.