Leg-prof-clippings.docx

Jerico Art Cantolino 1–D

August 31, 2018 Atty. Jacome

1. Defense lawyer shot dead in Bacolod Marchel P. Espina Published 3:16 PM, August 24, 2018 Updated 4:31 PM, August 24, 2018 https://www.rappler.com/nation/210293-rafael-atotubo-shot-dead-bacolod-august-23-2018

ANOTHER LAWYER KILLED. Rafael Atotubo is killed by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Bacolod City on August 23, 2018. File photo by Rob Reyes/Rappler

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – A lawyer who handled drug cases was shot dead in front of his rented house here on Thursday, August 23. The fatality was identified as 62-year-old Rafael Atotubo. The lawyer was sitting outside his house when he was attacked by two unidentified assailants on board a motorcycle. Chief Inspector Sherlock Gabana, Bacolod City Police Office public information officer, said the armed back rider, who was wearing a black jacket, bonnet and helmet, alighted from the motorcycle and shot the victim twice. The victim was rushed to a hospital where he was declared dead upon arrival. He succumbed to a gunshot wound below his left eyebrow. Authorities recovered two fired cartridges of caliber .9mm from the crime scene while the victim’s vehicle that was parked inside his garage had two bullet holes. Police probers are looking at all possible motives including the victim’s work as a defense lawyer for drug personalities. Meanwhile, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Negros Occidental chapter condemned the “vicious act” against their colleague. “Any attack against a lawyer weakens the practice of law and demoralizes lawyers from fulfilling their sworn duty to defend their clients. It threatens the independence of lawyers and judges, hindering their pursuit toward an effective administration of justice. Ultimately, an attack against a lawyer is a threat against civil liberties and should not be tolerated,” the group said. The local chapter of IBP also urged the authorities to conduct a full-scale investigation into the matter and bring the perpetrators to justice at once. “We likewise urge our colleagues in our profession to remain steadfast, unwavering and united in our commitment toward justice and truth,” the group said. – Rappler.com 1

2. Lawyer dead, wife in critical condition after home ambush in Cebu Rambo Talabong Published 10:20 AM, July 03, 2018 Updated 10:21 AM, July 03, 2018 https://www.rappler.com/nation/206350-salvador-verose-solima-shooting-cebu-city-july-2-2018

MANILA, Philippines – A lawyer and his wife were ambushed in their own home in Cebu City on Monday, July 2.

Lawyer Salvador Solima and his wife Verose were at the second floor of their house at Singson Compound in Barangay Guadalupe in Cebu City, when motorcycle-riding suspects drove by. One of the suspects "barged inside" at around 5:40 pm, according to the police report. The suspect climbed the stairs leading to the second floor "then shot at the head of both victims." Both were brought to the Chong Hua Hospital, where Solima was declared dead at 6:58 pm. His wife, according to the latest police report, is in critical condition. In a report by SunStar, Solima was described as a "well-known lawyer" who handled criminal cases which were high-profile in their area. He previously served as Cebu City assistant city prosecutor until he was dismissed for gross misconduct / grave abuse of authority and ignoring inquest procedures. He ran for Cebu City mayor in 2010 but lost. – Rappler.com

3. Kerwin Espinosa's lawyer killed in ambush near Cebu City courthouse MW Mosqueda and Rambo Talabong

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Published 2:51 PM, February 19, 2018 Updated 3:39 PM, February 19, 2018 https://www.rappler.com/nation/196388-kerwin-espinosa-lawyer-ambushed-near-cebu-city-courthouse

AMBUSH. The vehicle of Jonah John Ungab, lawyer of Kerwin Espinosa who was ambushed in Cebu, February 19 2018. Photo by Romeo Marantal KILLED. Doctors declare Ungab dead over an after he was brought to the hospital. Photo from Ungab’s Facebook page

CEBU CITY - Unidentified gunmen opened fire at the vehicle of Jonah John Ungab, lawyer of suspected drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, along S. Osmena Street, Cebu City, at noon Monday, February 19. Ungab, who is also incumbent vice mayor of Ronda town in Cebu, was aboard his vehicle after attending a court hearing at the Cebu City Hall of Justice for a case against Espinosa past 12 noon when he was ambushed. According to the police spot report of the attack obtained by Rappler, Ungab's wife was also aboard the car when the incident happened. Cebu City police chief Senior Superintendent Joel Doria said Ungab was brought to the Chong Hua Hospital in Mandaue City, where he died around 2 pm. SPO1 Winston Ybañes, of the Cebu City Police Office Homicide Investigation, said two unidentified suspects riding a Mio motorcycle shot Ungab in the nape. Ungab represented Espinosa in court for a Comelec gun ban case against the suspected drug lord. In that hearing, Espinosa was acquited of the charge of illegal possession of firearms.

4. Olongapo lawyer shot dead Randy V. Datu Published 8:37 PM, May 19, 2013

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Updated 9:01 PM, May 19, 2013 https://www.rappler.com/nation/29558-olongapo-lawyer-shot-dead

OLONGAPO CITY, Philippines - A lawyer handling the case of rogue Olongapo cops who kidnapped and extorted money from relatives of teen actor Jake Vargas was shot dead Saturday night, May 18, in front of his house. Authorities told Rappler that a lone gunman shot lawyer Ian Vela Cruz, married and with two children, thrice -- once in the head. Another man served as a lookout. The gunman later boarded a black Yamaha Mio motorcycle that was driven by an unidentified accomplice. Vela Cruz was a resident of 25-C East Bajac Bajac village. He was shot in front of his house at 845 pm Saturday. The victim, who had just come from a nearby Iglesia ni Cristo chapel, was taken to the St. Jude hospital in this city where he was pronounced dead on arrival. A source in the law office where Vela Cruz worked told Rappler that the lawyer had been working on a case filed by relatives of teen actor Jake Vargas who were kidnapped by at least 5 rogue Olongapo cops last year. The relatives of Vargas filed a case of kidnapping and extortion against the 5 Olongapo cops after the actor's brother and sister-in-law were abducted by the cops and then released after being paid P200,000. Vargas' relatives said the cops forcibly entered their home, falsely accused them of holding a pot session and extorted money from them. - Rappler.com

5. Environmental lawyer murdered in Philippines – police Agence France-Presse @afp Published 5:05 PM, February 17, 2017 Updated 7:36 PM, February 17, 2017

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https://www.rappler.com/nation/161782-environmental-lawyer-murdered-philippines

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – A Philippine lawyer who specialized in investigating crimes against the environment has been ambushed and shot dead, police said Friday, February 17. The murder on Wednesday of Mia Manuelita Mascarinas-Green deepened concerns that the Philippines is one of the world's most dangerous places for environmental campaigners, with more than 100 killed over the past 15 years. Four motorcycle-riding gunmen opened fire after surrounding a van being driven by Mascarinas-Green -- with her children and nanny in the vehicle -- near her home on the central island of Bohol, the authorities said. Mascarinas-Green was pronounced dead at a hospital but her children were unharmed, regional police spokesman Senior Inspector Reslin Abella told AFP. "The victim is a known environmental lawyer. Investigators are checking whether the attack had any link to the cases she had handled in relation to environmental issues," Abella told the Agence France-Presse by telephone. "They now have the identity of at least one of the perpetrators and a hot pursuit operation is ongoing," she said without naming the suspect. Abella said police were at the moment unaware if Mascarinas-Green had been threatened previously in relation to her work. Her children are twins, aged two, and a 10-year-old daughter, according to local media reports. Her death brings to 112 the number of environmental campaigners murdered in the Philippines over the past 15 years, according to Filipino environment monitor Kalikasan. This includes 12 since President Rodrigo Duterte took office 7 months ago, Kalikasan said. "Most of these cases remain unresolved as the government continues to ignore the threat against environmental defenders," Clemente Bautista, its national coordinator told AFP. "What this means is that the perpetrators are emboldened to do it again and again because no one ever gets caught."

Condemning the killings 5

In a statement, Alternative Law Groups (ALG) condemned the killing of MascarinasGreen, saying society "simply has no place for lawless killings." ALG added Mascarinas-Green "has been working as a dedicated environmental lawyer, an alternative lawyer in pursuit of public interest, respect for human rights, and promotion of social justice for more than 10 years. Her untimely death is a clear example of why we all should strive as alternative lawyers and advocates of human rights and social development." Greenpeace Southeast Asia executive director Yeb Sano also said the killing highlighted the culture of impunity in the Philippines, where powerful figures abuse a corrupt political and justice system to literally get away with murder. "Those who cause environmental destruction are resorting to savage measures and deplorable acts to stop communities and people who are standing up to protect our imperilled environment," Sano said. Environmental monitor Global Witness separately lists 88 killings of environmental activists and workers in the Philippines between 2010 and 2015. The attacks spiked with 33 dead in 2015, ranking the Philippines as the second most dangerous country in the world for environmental campaigners behind Brazil. –

Rappler.com

6. Baler judge dead, shot 6 times by lone gunman Published 6:35 PM, September 01, 2015 Updated 7:50 PM, September 04, 2015 https://www.rappler.com/nation/104424-baler-judge-dead

MANILA, Philippines – A trial judge in Aurora province was shot 6 times near his own court room by a still unidentified gunman at 2 pm Tuesday, September 1. Supreme Court (SC) justices expressed outrage over the slay of Baler Regional Trial Court Branch 91 Presiding Judge Jude Erwin Alaba. According to the SC Public Information Office, the RTC judge and his wife were in their car about to alight when the attack happened. Alaba’s spouse was also wounded. “Witnesses disclose that the lone gunman was spotted waiting for Judge Alaba near the compound of the court,” said the SC, calling for swift investigation into the matter.

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On his Twitter account, Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, who used to be congressman of the province, also condemned the killing.

7. RTC judge shot dead in Zamboanga Published 10:05 AM, February 28, 2014 Updated 5:42 PM, February 28, 2014 https://www.rappler.com/nation/51780-zamboanga-shooting-rtc-judge

MANILA, Philippines – (2nd UPDATE) A Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge died early Friday, February 28 in Zamboanga City after he was shot by two men riding in tandem. Judge Reynario Estacio Sr and his wife were onboard a Honda CRV along Narra Drive, Tugbungan, Zamboanga City, when they were shot, according to Tetuan chief of police Chief Inspector Felix Martinez. Martinez said Estacio and his wife were fired at several times with a caliber 45 pistol. Estacio was rushed to a nearby hospital, but was declared dead on arrival. Estacio sustained multiple injuries while his wife was unharmed. Zamboanga authorities are on hot pursuit of the two suspects. Estacio was the presiding judge of RTC Branch 14 in Zamboanga. The motives behind the shooting are unknown as of posting. A report from the Mindanao Examiner said that in 2012, Estacio ordered the Universidad de Zamboanga's to admit Muslim students to enroll or re-enroll following a controversial ban on veils. The university in 2012 banned students from using the hijab or niqab, because it violated the school's security protocol, according to the Mindanao Examiner. Students, however, said it encroached on their rights. The same year, another school in Zamboanga – Pilar College – banned female Muslim students from wearing the traditional hijab while inside campus. The ban in Pilar College was eventually lifted following dialogue between concerned groups. The Integrated Bar of the Philippines Zambasulta chapter vice presient Gian Paulo Enriquez, meanwhile, condemened the killing and challenged police to resign from their posts if they are unable to solve the crime. Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, in a statement, expressed her "deepest outrage" over the incident and offered her condolences to the judge's family.

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She said Zamboanga City executive judge Peter Eisma has been instructed to closely monitor the police probe and to assist Estacio's family. "When lawless violence claims one of our own, it wounds us more grievously not only because we would be one good man less but also because the rule of law is diminished by the sheer force of arms," the Chief Justice said. "We will not...let the killing of Judge Estacio remain another statistic due to the judiciary's lack of investigative or law enforcement capacities; within the bounds of our resources, we will look into ways of protecting our judges and looking after their families," Sereno added. – with reports from Richard Falcatan, Bea

Cupin/Rappler.com

8. Ombudsman prosecutor stabbed to death in front of lottery outlet Rambo Talabong Published 2:35 PM, June 04, 2018 Updated 5:56 PM, June 04, 2018 https://www.rappler.com/nation/204075-ombudsman-prosecutor-madona-joy-ednaco-tanyag-stabbeddeath

STABBED DEAD. A lawyer identified as a prosecutor for the Office of the Ombudsman is killed in front of a lottery store. File photo by Darren Langit/Rappler

Editor's Note: An earlier version of the story identified two suspects based on a wrongly worded police report. We have made the necessary changes after the Quezon City police issued a clarification. MANILA, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) – An Ombudsman prosecutor was stabbed to death Monday, June 4, police said. According to an initial police report, Madonna Joy Ednaco Tanyag, assistant special prosecutor (ASP) at the Office of the Ombudsman, was stabbed at around 11:20 am in front of a lottery outlet located along Visayas Avenue in Barangay Vasra, Quezon City. Tanyag was declared dead at the East Avenue Medical Center by a certain Doctor Julio Rafael Santos at 12:04 pm. Investigators on top of the case said the suspects have yet to be nabbed, and the motive of the incident has yet to be established. 8

In a statement released to reporters on Monday, the Office of the Ombudsman announced that it had asked the PNP for a thorough investigation, "and to ensure that the perpetrators are immediately caught." "The Office will leave no stone unturned in solving the case. The Office extends its deepest condolences to the family of ASP Tanyag," it said. – Rappler.com

9. Cop kills lawyer in Nueva Vizcaya Raymon Dullana Published 9:59 AM, December 02, 2016 Updated 10:02 AM, December 02, 2016 https://www.rappler.com/nation/154277-lawyer-killed-cop-nueva-vizcaya

CAGAYAN, Philippines – A police officer allegedly shot dead a lawyer – the husband of a fellow cop – in Diadi, Nueva Vizcaya, on Thursday, December 1. Tuguegarao City resident Jemar Apada, 29, was declared dead on arrival at the Diadi Emergency Hospital after sustaining several gunshot wounds. Police Chief Inspector Alexander Cabang, Diadi police chief, said in a report that Police Officer 1 Clifford Dulnuan shot Apada at the boarding house of the victim's wife around midnight Thursday. Apada’s wife, a police officer in Diadi, reportedly witnessed the killing. Cabang said the victim’s wife and the suspect are both assigned in Diadi. Police are said they are looking into leads in the case. – Rappler.com

10. CSC regional head in Cagayan Valley shot dead Raymon Dullana Published 11:49 PM, September 16, 2017

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Updated 11:49 PM, September 16, 2017 https://www.rappler.com/nation/182407-civil-service-commission-regional-head-shot-dead

MANILA, Philippines – The regional head of Civil Service Commission (CSC) in Cagayan Valley was shot dead late Friday afternoon, September 15. Lawyer Neil Agustin died on the spot after unknown motorcycle-riding gunmen fired shots at his vehicle, said Police Senior Superintendent Edward Guzman, Tuguegarao city police chief. In a report, Guzman said Agustin was driving his car with an employee, identified as Randolph Castañeda, when the shooting happened. The employee sustained injuries. Police recovered a number of still unknown bullet shells in the crime scene. Guzman said the police formed a special task force for investigations. – Rappler.com

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