Gun exemptions for judges reiterated

Sunday, October 17, 2010

THE Supreme Court repeated its appeal to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to exempt justices from gun ban during election period, citing that eight judges already perished for failure to protect themselves.

Court administrator and spokesman Jose Midas Marquez issued the appeal as the high court started raising funds to aid families of slain judges.

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“Judges should be distinguished from other gun ban exemption applicants simply because they are charged with a different responsibility, and that is to decide significant life-altering, if not life and death, cases or property lawsuits involving large sums of money,” he said.

Marquez said the refusal of the poll body to hear their plea “makes it easier for assassins to consummate their crimes.”

He bewailed that his pleas have fallen on deaf ears of the commissioners, which declined giving special gun ban exemption for judges and prosecutors.

Marquez’s position however countered that of Chief Justice Renato Corona, who said that he is not in favor of arming the judges.

Corona added that judges would only look ludicrous if they would be allowed to tote a pistol when they should be the one maintaining the rule of law.

Based on records, a total of eight judges were killed during the last five elections, the last of which was Judge Reynaldo Lacasandile of Vigan, Ilocos Sur RTC Branch 20.

In 2001, Judges Hassan Ibnohajil and Eduardo Geminiano brutally met their deaths on February 5 and June 11, respectively.

In 2004, Judge Paterno Tiamson was stabbed to death on February 21 while Judges Voltaire Rosales and Milnar Lammawin were gunned down on June 10 and August 9, respectively.

In 2007, Judge Nathaniel Pattugalan was shot to death in Quezon City on January 19 while his application for a gun ban exemption was pending. This year, Aparri RTC Judge Andres Cipriano was shot to death last May 18.

Since 1999, Marquez said some 21 judges were murdered. (JCV/Sunnex)