IBP decries attempt to assassinate judge

By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent

THE local chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) yesterday called on the government and citizens to act on the peace and order problem here in response to the attempt on the life of regional Judge Emmanuel Pasal in Gusa here over the weekend.

“The IBP-Misamis Oriental chapter urges the people of Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental to take action against such act of violence and criminality, and help the authorities identify and bring the perpetrator to the bar of justice in order that our democratic processes and way of life under the rule of law may be preserve and protected,” said lawyer Rey Raagas, local IBP president.

The IBP strongly condemned the gun attack staged against Pasal, presiding judge of the 38th branch of the Regional Trial Court, at around 8 pm Sunday.

Raagas said the attempt on Pasal’s life was an “attack on democracy and the judicial system.”

Chief Insp. Ariel Philip Pontillas, Agora police chief, said Pasal had just come from a game of badminton at Shuttle Square in Gusa when a still unidentified person fired a shot and hit the judge’s car.

Pontillas said investigators were still gathering more information in the hope of identifying a suspect and finding out what the motive for the attack was.

He however said police suspected the attack could be an offshoot of a drug case the judge was handling in Malaybalay City in Bukidnon Pontillas said the judge himself told police that was his suspicion.

Pontillas said there was an attempt to bribe Pasal but the judge rejected it. “Kay wala man siya modawat, ma-o na ang  dako nga hinongdan ngano nga gipusil siya.”