THE Bacolod City Council approved a resolution condemning the killing of Atty. Rafael Atotubo and calling the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (DILG) and all law enforcement agencies to do all efforts to immediately solve the crime.
The resolution, authored by Councilor Caesar Distrito, was approved during the regular session yesterday.
Distrito said the law enforcement agencies should exert their efforts to solve and bring into justice the perpetrators and to see to it that this will be the last to happen.
On Thursday, Atotubo was killed by unidentified gunmen in front of his house located at Galo BBB in Bacolod City.
Distrito said Atotubo is known for his advocacy against abuses and corruption.
He said the incident created a chilling effect particularly on the lawyers who are merely performing their profession which is to uphold justice and the law and to defend the interests of their clients.
"This incident, of killing lawyers, has no place in a civilized society and should be solved immediately by our law enforcement agencies so as to give justice to Atty. Atotubo and for the safety and security of other lawyers as well," he added.
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Negros Occidental chapter had earlier said that such incident weakens the practice of law and demoralizes lawyers from fulfilling their sworn duty and threatens the independence of lawyers and judges, hindering their pursuit toward and effective administration of justice.
Councilor Ricardo Tan, chairperson of the City Council committee on police matters, said that aside from being a lawyer, Atotubo is also a crusader.
"He is fighting corruption in government and it is unfortunate that we lost a man who is fighting for a clean governance," he said.
He added policemen should act on this immediately to arrest the perpetrators and to give justice to the family of the victim.*
