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Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Judges condemn murder of colleague
By Antonio M. Ajero and Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- The Philippine Judges Association (PJA), headed by Judge Romeo F. Barza, has condemned in the strongest terms the murder of Pasay City Regional Trial Court Judge Henrick F. Gingoyon.
Barza, a Dabawenyo, said the entire membership of the PJA "grieves profoundly over the cowardly and bestial killing" of Gingoyon, whom he described as "their fond comrade and fealty companion," last December 31 in Cavite while he was on his way home after a gym exercise.
Gingoyon is the fifth RTC judge murdered by unknown assailants.
Gingoyon, while he has not been assigned in Mindanao, was the special prosecutor sent by the Department of Justice more than 10 years ago to investigate the scandal-wracked rape and murder of 17-year-old high school student Charmaine Devee Palo.
Palo's body was found in a vacant lot in Garden Heights along the Davao Medical School Foundation Drive in 1993. Scandal surrounded the case because the prime suspect, Kirat Balbuena, was a bodyguard of then First District Congressman Jesus G. Dureza.
In a statement emailed to this paper Monday night, the PJA also urged President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to order the police and the National Bureau of Investigation "to immediately and without let-up pursue and seize the merciless killers and their mastermind and to bring all of them to the bar of justice."
"It is indeed very ironic and heart-rending to the rational world to learn that another judge has been brutally murdered in broad daylight amidst the lingering yuletide joy awaiting the passing of the year 2005 and the coming of the New Year 2006," Barza said.
The judges also requested newly assumed Supreme Court Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban to direct a deeper probe into the death of Gingoyon and other judges in the recent past.
"The PJA, likewise, proposes the creation by the Supreme Court or the NBI of Philippine Marshals similar to US Marshals, dedicated to hunt down killers of judges and provide protection and security to threatened judges, especially those handling drug cases," said the statement, adding that the purpose is "to instill fear in the minds of criminals and hired assassins of being convicted and incarcerated."
"Assassins are not afraid to die in combat, but they dread being jailed," it said, adding the presence of Philippine Marshals would serve as a deterrent to harming members of the judiciary.
Dabawenyo leaders also condemned the murder of Judge Gingoyon in the strongest sense saying his death is a "big blow to our democratic system."
"All lovers of democracy should mourn the passing of another fighter for justice," Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte, himself a former government prosecutor, said.
House Majority Leader Prospero C. Nograles on the other hand said "the passing of an honest magistrate like Gingoyon is a great loss to the country's justice system."
Davao del Sur Representative Douglas Ra Cagas also strongly condemned the "dastardly and cowardly-done murder."
Former justice secretary Silvestre Bello III, now general manager and CEO of Philippine Reclamation Authority, mourned the passing of Gingoyon who happens to be his personal friend.
"He's not only a compañero but is also a personal friend. We were together for many years. He is a big loss not just personally but also to the cause of justice. We should condemn his killing," Bello said.
Former city councilor Beethoven Orcullo, also a personal friend of Gingoyon, challenged the government to find immediately resolve the case and prove that it still has the capacity to protect and serve the people.
"The brutal killing of Judge Gingoyon is an attack not only on his person and family but on the law profession and the entire judicial system. Government authorities should prove it is still capable of delivering justice to all victims of summary executions," Orcullo said. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
(January 4, 2006 issue)
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3 suspects in judge's slay arrested