MANILA, Philippines — (Updated 8:32 p.m.) A Zamboanga del Norte judge was shot dead Thursday, the fourth judge since 2017.
Police Major Helen Galvez, spokesperson of Police Regional Office 9, identified the victim as Judge Reymar Lacaya. She said local police reported that Lacaya was shot on Thursday afternoon while he was at the parking lot of the Bulwagan ng Katarungan (justice hall) at Barangay Poblacion in Liloy town.
Lacaya was brought to the Liloy District Hospital for treatment but did not reach it alive.
The Liloy police do not have a suspect in the shooting of Lacaya, who was alone when he was killed.
According to Galvez, Liloy police personnel who responded to the shooting are gathering tips from potential witnesses in the area.
Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin confirmed the ambush of Judge Reymar Lacaya of Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte Regional Trial Court Branch 11.
The head of the Judiciary slammed the killing of Judge Lacaya and urged the police to expedite the investigation.
“I am urging the authorities to exert their best efforts for the immediate apprehension of those responsible for Judge Lacaya’s death,” the chief justice said.
Bersamin noted that Lacaya is the 30th judge to be killed since 1999.
Lacaya’s killing came seven months after that of Ozamiz City Judge Edmundo Pintac, who was gunned down by motorcycle-riding men while he was on his way home on Oct. 8, 2018.
In August 2017, Butuan RTC Branch 4 Presiding Judge Godofredo Abul Jr. and his wife were shot by an unknown attacker.
In June 2018, Camarines Sur Judge Ricky Begino was shot in front of his house.
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines has tallied more than 30 deaths of members of the Philippine Bar since the start of the Duterte administration. — with The STAR/Roel Pareño