Cavite prosecutor gunned down

MANILA, Philippines — A prosecutor was gunned down in front of his house in Trece Martires City in Cavite yesterday.

The attack on Trece Martires deputy prosecutor Edilbert Mendoza occurred in Barangay Cabuco at around 7:38 a.m., according to a police report.

Mendoza was exercising in front of his house when the suspect appeared from behind and shot him in the head. The prosecutor died at the scene.

Witnesses said the suspect fled on foot.

Police launched pursuit operations for the gunman.

Probers are searching for leads to determine the identity of the assailant.

Col. Arnold Abad, Cavite police director, ordered the creation of a special investigation group to probe the killing.

Abad said a land dispute is among those being eyed as the motive for the gun attack. Police are reviewing footage of closed-circuit television cameras, which caught the gunman as he walked away from the scene.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct a parallel probe.

Guevarra told reporters in a Viber message that the killing shows the risk that prosecutors are facing in the performance of their duties.

“I have directed the NBI to immediately join in the manhunt and apprehension of the perpetrators of this treacherous crime,” Guevarra said.

Sixty-three lawyers, judges and court personnel have been killed under the administration of President Duterte as of July 26.

Last month, the Senate approved on third and final reading a bill creating a security force to protect members of the judiciary. – Robertzon Ramirez, Ed Amoroso