MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has initiated an independent investigation on the murder of a lawyers who was seeking a seat in the city council of Sto. Tomas in Batangas.
“The CHR office in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) will look into the killing of Reginald Michael Manito,” CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said over the weekend.
Manito was shot dead by two unidentified assailants inside his office shortly before noon on Thursday.
He was declared dead on arrival at the St. Cabrini Medical Center.
The assailants did not harm Manito’s secretary Aira Vargas.
“CHR denounces this latest killing of another member of the legal profession. There have been numerous attacks against lawyers in recent years, which contribute to a hostile and fearful environment for those working to pursue justice,” De Guia said.
She urged the government to accord lawyers and all agents of the law added protection to enable them to perform their duties without fear of retaliation.
“Tighter security measures must be implemented for them, especially during this fragile period of election season,” De Guia said.
Calabarzon police director Brig. Gen. Antonio Yarra said Manito’s murder could be job-related.
Yarra said a special task investigation group (STIG) would handle the Manito case.
“It is too early yet to conclude that the murder was politically motivated. Investigation is ongoing and we are still gathering evidence including footage of a closed-circuit television camera,” Batangas police director Glicerio Cansilao said.
He said probers have identified a person of interest in the incident.
Manito, a member of the Nacionalista Party, was running under the ticket of Vice Mayor Armenius Silva, who is seeking the mayoral post in Sto. Tomas.