Lawyer, staff attacked in Abra; CHR wants gov’t action
THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is calling out the government to take immediate action after the recent stabbing incident that involved a lawyer and his staff in Bangued town, Abra.
The CHR reiterates 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, Atty. Hamilcar Bigornia was repeatedly stabbed on January 29 by two unidentified assailants inside his law office, and thankfully, both Bigornia and his staff member, Ruben Barcena Alvarez, survived the attack.
Bigornia, however, was not one to be taken down easily, as he 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.
CHR stressed that targeting lawyers put the rule of law under threat and perpetuates impunity.
The CHR stated, “When lawyers are targeted, the rule of law is similarly under threat, which runs the risk of impunity persisting.”
The CHR’s regional office in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) is conducting a motu proprio investigation to pursue the truth and hold accountable those responsible for the attack.
