Following the death of a counsel for a suspected drug lord, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) on Friday warned against attempts to intimidate lawyers for doing their jobs, calling it a threat to democracy.
鈥溾�橳he first thing we do, let鈥檚 kill all the lawyers,鈥� the famous line from Shakespeare鈥檚 鈥楬enry VI,鈥� is one of the most misunderstood and misapplied. The context of the statement in the play meant that in order to create chaos and pave the way for tyranny, the best way is to eliminate those who would stand in the way and remove the guardians of independent thinking, the lawyers,鈥� IBP said in a statement.
The statement from the constitutionally mandated association of Filipino lawyers came after Rogelio Bato Jr., lawyer of alleged drug lord Rolando 鈥淜erwin鈥� Espinosa Jr., was killed with a 15-year-old companion in Leyte on Tuesday. Unidentified men aboard a white pickup and a motorcycle fired at the vehicle they were riding in.
READ: Lawyer of suspected drug lord, teener shot dead in Leyte
Amid the mounting unresolved deaths in the government鈥檚 bloody war against drugs, the IBP said a 鈥渟trong and effective legal profession is one of the best safeguards against chaos and anarchy in a democratic society.鈥�
鈥淭hus, when lawyers are made to live under threat of violence and even murder for performing their sworn functions, the rule of law is seriously degraded and those intending to subvert the law can do so with impunity,鈥� it added.
Saying that 鈥渨e are a nation of laws and not of men,鈥� the IBP earlier denounced the spate of extrajudicial killings in the country, as it called for a 鈥渟erious and credible鈥� investigation of drug-related deaths.
READ: IBP calls for 鈥榮erious, credible鈥� probe of vigilante killings
鈥淚n ending, the IBP strongly appeals to the Philippine National Police, the National Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies to act with dispatch and seriously pursue the conclusion of investigations into the many unresolved killings of lawyers and judges,鈥� IBP added.
The statement was signed by Rosario Setias-Reyes, national president and chair of the board; Abdiel Dan Elijah Fajardo, executive vice president and governor for Western Visayas; Franklin Calpito, governor for Northern Luzon; Jose de la Rama Jr., governor for Central Luzon; Romeo Igot, governor for Greater Manila; Bienvenido Somera Jr., governor for Southern Luzon; Mae Elaine Bathan, governor for Eastern Visayas; Emerson Aquende, governor for Bicolandia; Caesar Europa, governor for Eastern Mindanao; and Domingo Redelosa IV, governor for Western Mindanao./rga