MANILA – The Supreme Court on Sunday expressed “outrage and sadness” at the killing of the Butuan City Regional Trial Court presiding judge by riding-in-tandem hitmen on Saturday.
The statement issued by Atty. Theodore Te on behalf of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and the associate justices also urged police to move quickly to fully investigate the murder of Judge Godofredo B. Abul Jr., and the injuries inflicted on his wife, who was with him during the attack.
Abul Jr. died while his wife was wounded after a still-unidentified motorcycle riding gunman opened fire at their vehicle as the couple was about to leave the house Saturday morning, August 5, 2017.
Initial information from the Caraga Police Regional Office 13 (PRO-13) indicated that Abul, 68, was fatally hit in the head, while his wife Bernadeth Casuna Abul, 65, suffered gunshot wounds .
The SC’s statement comes on the heels of a statement of alarm from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, noting that “the frequency and the sheer violence” of such acts “have reached alarming levels … Summary and violent death sentences administered by unknown individuals are no substitute” for a working judicial system.”
On his social media account, Attorney Dennis Bacala, governor of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) for Eastern Mindanao, said: “… this is a sad day, this is a blow to our profession.” He said “this kind of violent attack is not only an attack [on] the person of the Honorable Judge but this is an attack [on] our institution.”
HERE’S FULL TEXT OF THE SUPREME COURT STATEMENT:
“The Chief Justice and Associate Justices express their outrage and sadness at the killing of the Honorable Presiding Judge GODOFREDO B. ABUL JR. of the Regional Trial Court of Butuan City, Branch 4 and the injuries inflicted on his wife yesterday, August 5, 2017. They call on the authorities concerned to take all necessary steps with all deliberate speed to do justice for Judge Abul and his wife by fully investigating the crimes committed. Manila, 6 August 2017.”
