Bersamin gets death threats

MANILA,Philippines — Former chief justice Lucas Bersamin has been receiving threats since he retired from the government last month.

Bersamin, 70, had the threats documented on the police blotter of the Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit on Monday.

The latest threat on Bersamin took place on Sunday. He was riding his vehicle on his way home when his bodyguards noticed two men on a motorcycle following them along Quezon Avenue.

According to Bersamin, the men kept following his vehicle to a street heading to Commonwealth Avenue. One of his security escorts, who was driving, speeded up after noticing the back rider pointing at their vehicle.

Bersamin said he also received two threatening phone calls from unidentified individuals on separate occasions last month, days after he retired on Oct. 18. He did not elaborate.

Philippine National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said the PNP is “ready to provide security to judges and members of the judiciary who need it, especially those who have validated threats against their lives.”

Banac made the assurance in response to the death of Judge Mario Bañez of Tagudin, Ilocos Sur who  was killed by armed men in San Fernando, La Union last week.

Police are eyeing the illegal drug cases handled by Bañez as among the motives for his murder.

Banac said they have yet to receive a request from judges for additional security.

At least 30 judges were killed since January 1999, according to the Supreme Court.

Persons with threats to their security can avail themselves of a maximum of two escorts from the PNP Police Security Protection Group.

Bersamin voted in favor of the quo warranto case against former chief justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, the declaration of martial law in Mindanao and the burial of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.