Lawyer, husband shot dead in Davao City
Unidentified assailants have shot dead a Davao City-based lawyer and her husband just outside their residence in Bgy. Talomo last Wednesday.
Police identified the victims as Atty. Sitti Gilda Mahinay-Sapie and her husband, Muhaimen Mohammad Sapie, hosts of online-based radio program “Justice Redeemer.”
Initial investigation showed that the victims were gunned down shortly after they stepped out of their house at 5:10 p.m. Wednesday.
The two died while undergoing treatment at the Southern Philippines Medical Center.
Justice Redeemer is an online free legal advice program, tackling “general legal issues” and an opinion-oriented political program, which is also aired over 94.7 Power Radio Davao (DXLL).
Mahinay was arrested in 2019 for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. She was released on bail.
The lawyer alleged that she was being harassed for defending the rights of farmers and the marginalized.
Meanwhile, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) on Friday strongly condemned the killings of Mahinay-Sapie and her husband, and renewed its plea to the government to stop the violence against members of the legal community.
“The IBP extends its deepest condolences to the family, relatives, and friends of Atty. Mahinay-Sapie and her husband whom they suddenly left behind… The IBP calls upon the government to protect its citizens from such brazen killings and to ensure that lawyers can do their jobs without fear of reprisal, attacks, and harassment,” IBP national president Burt Estrada said in a statement.
