Police nab suspect in ambush on Ilocos Norte court staff
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — A suspect in an ambush that killed a clerk of court and injured a process server in Batac City, Ilocos Norte has been arrested in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur.
Sherwin Daguipon Rinen, who was identified by Regional Trial Court branch 65 process server Teodoro Daguipon as the shooter, was caught by Batac City policemen led by Chief Inspector Rodel Santos in a lawyer's house in Vigan City on Tuesday.
Rinen, a distant relative of Daguipon, ambushed the court employees at around Monday afternoon along the national highway in barangay Baay, near the Bungon National High School in Batac City. Rinen's accomplice in the attack is still at large.
Clerk of Court Randell Villaruz, who was driving when he was ambushed with Daguipon, died at the hospital. Daguipon, meanwhile, survived seven gunshot wounds.
Senior Superintendent Cesar Pasiwen, Ilocos Norte police director, said Daguipon was likely the target of the ambush, although police have yet to determine a motive for the shooting.
READ: Ilocos Norte clerk of court shot dead in ambush
The Ilocos Norte chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines has condemned the attack.
This violence against lawyers and court employees creates "an environment of fear" in the justice system, IBP-Ilocos Norte chapter public relations officer Ernielineo Labrador said, quoting from the group's statement.
"An assault against a lawyer or a court personnel is an affront to the legal profession and the Judiciary," IBP-Ilocos Norte further stressed, adding, "when lawyers and court officers are made to live under threat of violence, our sworn functions are not proficiently rendered and the rule of law is seriously degraded."
On Saturday night, motorcycle-riding gunmen also shot a former Ilocos Norte provincial legal officer in front of his home in Laoag City.
Jason Bader Perera, who now mostly handles drug cases, was shot twice in the back but has regained consciousness.
Pasiwen said police already have a suspect in that attack.
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