Sixteen Filipino judges have been killed since 1999, forcing the Philippine Supreme Court to exploit human greed in helping solve the murders.
Below is a news item issued by the Supreme Court announcing a P1 million fund to serve as the source of rewards for tipsters.
Court News Flash December 2008
See: www.supremecourt.gov.ph
PhP1Million Reward for Informants, Witnesses in Judge’s Killings; Security Training for Judges Continues
Posted: December 11, 2008
By Jay B. Rempillo
The Judiciary has set aside a total of PhP1 million as reward money for informants and witnesses whose information and testimonies can lead to the arrest, prosecution, and conviction of the perpetrators and masterminds of the senseless killings and attempts on the life of our magistrates.
Upon the recommendation of the Supreme Court Committee on Security, the Court has approved the grant of such incentives and rewards. The million-peso reward fund comes from the Philippine Judges Foundation, Inc. (PJFI), headed by retired Chief Justice Andres R. Narvasa and retired Court of Appeals Justice Mariano M. Umali, PJFI’s Chairperson and President, respectively.
Justice Presbitero J. Velasco, Jr., Chairperson of the SC Committee on Security, has announced that a reward of PhP100,000 will be given to informants/witnesses for information leading to the identity of a person threatening or killing any member of the Judiciary. Another PhP100,000 will be given upon the latter’s conviction.
Informants/witnesses may contact the Supreme Court through the Office of Assistant Court Administrator Edwin A. Villasor at (+632) 5216809, or Atty. Allan Contado and Mr. Jason Domingo of the National Bureau of Investigation Task Force for Judiciary Protection at (+632) 5238231.
Sixteen judges have been killed since 1999, the latest victim being Judge Philip G. Labastida of the San Juan Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC), who was found dead with several stab wounds in his Quezon City house last December 7.
Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno has condemned Judge’s Labastida’s killing and called for the early resolution of the case. “The entire Judiciary strongly condemns the killing of Judge Labastida. I am urging the police authorities to exert all efforts for the immediate apprehension of those responsible for Judge Labastida’s death,” Chief Justice Puno said.
The foregoing development was welcomed by the participants in the Personal Security Training for Judges which is being held at the Bohol Tropics Hotel in Tagbilaran City. Attendees to the seminar-training, which concludes today, December 11, are Regional Trial Court (RTC) judges, Municipal Trial Court (MTC) judges, Muncipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) judges, and Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) judges from Judicial Regions VI, VII, and VIII.
Judges Weigh in on Security
Judge Reynaldo B. Clemens of the Calbayog City RTC, Branch 31 said that the reward will encourage witnesses to come out to help solve the killings. His late colleague, Judge Roberto A. Navidad of the Calbayog City RTC, Branch 32, was shot dead by still unidentified suspect in January this year.
Judge Rowena Nieves Tan of the Balangiga, Eastern Samar RTC, Branch 42 shared the same sentiment. Judge Tan opined that witnesses to the killings of judges will be more encouraged to come out if they will be assured of their protection and security and not just be given financial rewards.
The judges-participants are oriented by able resource speakers from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on crime prevention and basic first aid, threat awareness and personal security measures, among others.
Among other things, the participants were told that “it helps to have a little paranoia” to ensure their safety and protection.
Judge Clemens could not agree more saying that because of paranoia “you prepare for your safety.” For her part, however, Judge Tan said she would rather be “cautious but not paranoid” and “careful but to continue trusting people.”
Even a judge-couple differed in their opinions this time on the issue of judges’ carrying firearms for their protection. Judge Franklin J. Demonteverde of the Himamaylan City RTC, Branch 55, whose sala is located in the middle of a sugarcane plantation, gave an affirmative response, while his wife Judge Ma. Lorna P. Demonteverde of the Bacolod City MTCC, Branch 2 said she would rather not handle a gun. The Demonteverdes are also participants to the seminar.
Today, the participants will have firearms orientation, as well as marksmanship and technical proficiency training.
The Bohol training is the third of its kind since the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Judicial Security between the Supreme Court and the NBI last January. . It is a joint project by the Supreme Court Committee on Security, the Philippine Judicial Academy, and the Office of the Court Administrator, in coordination with the NBI.
The Security Trainings were first held in Davao last July and Baguio City last August after the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Judicial Security between the Supreme Court and the NBI last January.
Under the said MOA, the NBI created the Task Force Judiciary Protection as the bureau’s investigating and operating unit. The TFJP is composed of NBI personnel who will “provide prompt and effective protection to judges and justices needing or requesting protection due to threats to their personal safety arising from judicial work” and “investigate thoroughly without letup until final resolution all killings or attempted killings of judges and justices.”
Previous Security Measures for Judges
The Court has already drawn up earlier measures to curb the work-related killing of judges.
In August 2007, Chief Justice Puno, through Memorandum Circular No. 10-2007, provided an interim security procedure to improve the security for justices and judges pending the issuance of a comprehensive security protocol for the lower courts.
The above security protocol designates two focal persons, whom all justices and judges should immediately contact in case of threats to their security or safety. Assigned as contact persons are Deputy Court Administrator (DCA) Reuben dela Cruz and Atty. Allan C. Contado, who is also the Liaison Officer to the Supreme Court for the NBI’s Task Force for Judiciary Protection.
The protocol was based on the recommendations of the Committee on Security of the Judiciary in response to the recent spate of violence and killings against members of the Judiciary, especially judges in the lower courts who are continuously exposed to violent attacks.
In 2005, the Court approved the Guidelines for Detail of Court Personnel as Security of Judges. The Guidelines cover all Regional Trial Courts, Shari’a District Courts, Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, Municipal Circuit Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, and Shari’a Circuit Courts.
Under the Guidelines, a judge who receives a direct threat may apply with the Philippine National Police (PNP) for protective security. A direct threat is defined as “an actual threat of danger or physical harm.”
If the judge is under an imminent threat or if his request to the PNP is denied, he or she may apply with the Court’s Security Committee for authority to designate a member of the judge’s staff as an escort. An imminent threat is defined as “a probable danger of death or physical harm.” Only one employee of the court may be designated as an escort by the judge.
Likewise, the Court, through the Office of the Court Administrator, has inked a Memorandum of Agreement with the Philippine National Police in 2005 “to work and coordinate with each other in the processing of Permits to Carry Licensed Firearms of the members of the Judiciary,” especially those who are receiving death threats. With the MOA, judges are granted permits to carry their firearms even outside their stations.
Also, in 2004, the Court abolished the Heinous Crimes Courts “owing to the relatively low caseloads in the said courts and considering that the current set-up makes a Heinous Crime Court Judge easily identifiable, making him/her an easy prey to vindictive litigants.” Heinous crimes are now cognizable by all second-level courts.
