Senator Dick Gordon has called on the Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) to reopen and resolve the cold cases of murdered judges with accuracy and speed to ensure conviction.
During the second hearing conducted by the Committee on Justice and Human Rights on bills proposing the creation of a Philippine Marshal Service that would ensure security and protection of the members of the Bench, Gordon said the CIDG should work on resolving the killings, some of were committed more than a decade ago.
“It would be so inspiring.”
“It would be so inspiring and justice is being made in spite of the years kung nakita natin ang nagpapatay kay Judge Pattugalan, cold case tawag diyan di ba? Pati yung iba din. Di ba 31 judges had been killed? (plus 2 retired judges) include nyo din ‘yang mga cases na ‘yan,” the veteran legislator told PNP-CIDG Director Joel Napoleon Coronel.
The CIDG has reported that 33 judges had been killed since 1999, with 23 cases already filed in various courts. Of the cases filed, 15 are still on trial, there were two convictions and six were acquittals.
The assassination 13 years ago of Judge Nathaniel Pattugalan while on board a public utility jeepney in Quezon City is among the cases that have yet to be filed in court. His wife, Anastacia is one of the resource persons in the hearing.
The seasoned lawmaker also underscored that there should be an urgency in the Supreme Court to have a post mortem if a case on a slain judge is dismissed to determine the reason for such.
“It is like a slap on the face.”
“When a judge is killed, I would imagine na the Supreme Court should make sure na mas speedy yung justice diyan. I don’t think I would be biased when I say that because tinutugis mo ang katarungan. Kung napatay yung judge, NBI agent o police, dapat full-press court tayong lahat because you are hurting every citizen in this country. It is like a slap on the face,” the senator added.