NBI to probe killing of ex-Ozamiz prosecutor Marabe

MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Thursday said that he has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to probe the killing of former Ozamiz state prosecutor.

In a message to reporters, the Justice chief said that he has directed the NBI to investigate the attack on former Ozamiz City Prosecutor Geronimo Marabe Jr., who was shot dead by four unidentified assailants in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental on Tuesday morning.

“The DOJ will not take these violent incidents sitting down,” Guevarra added.

Marabe's murder came weeks after Quezon City Deputy Prosecutor Rogelio Velasco was gunned down by several men on May 11.

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Marabe is the ninth prosecutor attacked since October 2016, when Mati City Prosecutor Rolando Acido was shot dead by unidentified men just outside the city’s Hall of Justice.

Marabe served as state prosecutor on the cases filed against the Parojinogs, whom the government has tagged as drug lords.

Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. was killed in a bloody raid in their residence in July 30 last year. In the same raid, his son and daughter—Reynaldo Parojinog Jr. and Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog-Echavez—were arrested by the authorities.

The elder Parojinog was earlier identified by President Rodrigo Duterte as one of the public officials with links to the illegal drug trade.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines, on February, formed a task force to investigate the killings of the members of the bar.

IBP National President Abdiel Dan Fajardo created a five-member panel to “to investigate, document, prosecute or assist in the prosecution of cases involving the murder or violent assault against the members of the Bar and/or their families.”

READ: IBP forms task force vs attacks on lawyers