CHR probing attack on Abra lawyer, staff member
THE Commission Human Rights urged the government to take immediate action after the recent stabbing incident that involved a lawyer and his staff member in Bangued, Abra.
The CHR reiterated its plea to stop the violence against lawyers, which poses a severe threat to the rule of law and human rights in the country.
According to preliminary investigation reports, attorney Hamilcar Bigornia was repeatedly stabbed on January 29 by two unidentified assailants inside his law office.
Both Bigornia and his staff member, Ruben Barcena Alvarez, survived the attack.
Bigornia was able to shoot one of the suspects while the other managed to escape.
The CHR emphasized the critical role lawyers and judges play in administering justice and protecting human rights. It said the targeting of lawyers puts the rule of law under threat and perpetuates impunity.
“When lawyers are targeted, the rule of law is similarly under threat, which runs the risk of impunity persisting,” the CHR said.
The CHR’s regional office in the Cordillera Administrative Region is conducting a motu proprio investigation to hold accountable those responsible for the attack.
