Aguirre orders NBI to probe assassination attempt on Surigao City prosecutor

Department of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Wednesday ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the assassination attempt on Surigao city prosecutor Manuel Tesioma. (Photo: President Rodrigo Duterte Supporters/Facebook)

MANILA—Department of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Wednesday ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the assassination attempt on Surigao city prosecutor Manuel Tesioma.

Tesioma, 47, was shot outside his home Monday morning by a motorcycle riding gunman in the chest, neck and back.

“I have also ordered the NBI to conduct a parallel investigation,” Aguirre said.

Aguirre said they have provided financial assistance to the family.

“We helped his family financially and will be asking other prosecutors nationwide to help likewise. We have airlifted him to Cebu City for better treatment,” he noted.

Tesioma is the third prosecutor attacked since October 2016. Mati City Prosecutor Rolando Acido was shot to death outside Mati City Hall of Justice last Oct. 26, 2016. On Jan. 11, Quezon City Prosecutor Noel Mingoa was shot at closed range while outside a restaurant along Commonwealth Avenue.

Meanwhile, the attack to Tesioma is believed to be related to the killing of former judge in Surigao City last February 2.

Members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Surigao del Norte chapter has decided to withdrew their representation on drug cases in their jurisdiction in protest over the killing of retired Surigao city judge Victor Canoy last Thursday and the attempted assassination of Tesioma Monday.

In a statement signed by its chapter president Noel Pangilinan, the group said the move is partly in protest over the killing of Canoy and the attempted killing of Tesioma as well as to call the attention of the authorities to the threats they and their families are receiving since some of them started handling drug-related cases.

“We are protesting the shallow understanding of the legal process, which prompted the accusation of our colleagues as alleged drug coddlers and protectors because of the drug cases that have been dismissed in their respective officers. We withdraw our representation from all drug cases starting today until all perpetrators are apprehended. We will not be able to do our jobs if our lives and the lives of our families are in peril,’ the statement said.

To further convey their concern, the group said they will also hold a motorcade from the IBP Building in Parola, Surigao City which will culminate in a rally and a brief program to be held at the city’s Luneta Park on February 9.

The 70-year old Canoy whose last position in the judiciary before retiring was as regional trial court judge of Branch 29 in Surigao City was shot dead by riding-in-tandem suspects last February 2.