Zambo RTC judge gunned down

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – A regional trial court (RTC) judge here, known to be handling high-profile cases and was supposed to retire on March 25, was gunned down by two unidentified men while he and his wife were about to leave their home yesterday morning, authorities said.

The victim, Judge Reynerio Estacio, 65, of RTC Branch 14, sustained two gunshot wounds in the left arm, with the fatal bullet hitting his back and exiting through his left chest, said Chief Inspector Danilo Tindero, Station 6 deputy police commander.

Investigation showed that Estacio and his wife Tess were onboard their Honda CRV and had barely left their house in Barangay Tungbungan when they were attacked at around 8 a.m. yesterday.

Mrs. Estacio was unhurt, and police believe that the judge struggled to cover his wife as their car was peppered with bullets. The gunmen fled on a motorcycle.

A tricycle driver rushed Estacio to the hospital but he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Tindero said at least six empty shells apparently from a .45-caliber pistol were recovered at the scene.

Senior Superintendent Angelito Casimiro, city police chief, said they were looking into several angles in Estacio’s killing, including the job-related angle.

RTC Branch 14 personnel described Estacio as an approachable and considerate judge whose sala was handling high-profile cases  such as murder and human trafficking.

Estacio was raised in Margosatubig, Zamboanga del Sur before his family migrated to Bulacan. He became a court clerk in the Court of Appeals and was assigned as fiscal in Caloocan City before he came to Zamboanga City as a judge sometime in 2005.

The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday condemned Estacio’s killing and Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno immediately asked law enforcers to speed up their investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice. 

“I am asking the law enforcement offices to act swiftly in getting to the bottom of this incident and to hold the person or persons accountable for this criminal act,” she said in a statement.

Sereno also instructed Zamboanga RTC Executive Judge Peter Eisma “to closely monitor the investigation by the police of the incident and to provide whatever assistance and support the family of Judge Estacio would need at this time.

“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,” she said.

“The proposition that in the clash of arms, the law is silent is unacceptable. In order that judges may continue to be fearless and undaunted in discharging their duties of fairly, impartially and swiftly dispensing justice, they must be insulated from the violence that comes from the clash of arms. The law must speak and speak loudly so that the arms are silenced,” she added.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Zamboanga chapter also condemned Estacio’s gun-slay, saying it was an act of cowardice.

“This is an attack not only to the IBP but also to the judiciary,” said lawyer Gian Paulo Enriquez, vice president of the IBP Zamboanga chapter.

“If (police) cannot solve this case, they should resign,” Enriquez said.

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman Jr. pushed yesterday for the grant of hazard pay for judges following the spate of killings of members of the judiciary in recent months.

“While the fact that Judge’s Reynerio Estacio’s assassination literally happened at the heels of the bill’s filing is indubitable proof of its wisdom and timeliness,” Lagman said. – With Edu Punay, Paolo Romero