Group condemns ambush of lawyers

1 day ago 3

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

THE National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL) on Thursday condemned the ambush of two lawyers in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, that killed one of them.

At 3:15 p.m. on Monday, lawyers Junisa Kimamao and Ibrahim Pendatu were ambushed by two gunmen on a motorcycle, as they were traveling to Barangay Awang.

The 27-year-old Kimamao was declared dead on arrival at the hospital, while Pendatu remains in critical condition.

"This attack is part of an alarming and worsening pattern of violence against lawyers, particularly in Mindanao. The recent assassination attempt on Atty. Omar Samama, Vice Mayor of Datu Salibo, Maguindanao del Sur, further underscores the increasing danger faced by members of the legal profession," the NUPL said.

"We stand in solidarity with the legal community and the families of Atty. Kimamao and Atty. Pendatu in these difficult times. We call for an independent and transparent investigation into the attack to ensure that the perpetrators are swiftly identified and prosecuted. The government must also fulfill its duty under the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers to guarantee that lawyers can perform their professional duties without intimidation, harassment, or violence."