CHIEF Justice Diosdado Peralta has expressed optimism that Congress would hasten passage of the bill creating the Philippine Judiciary Marshal Service (PJMS) to protect members of the judiciary from violent crimes. He expressed this hope as a judge was killed in an ambush in Bicol last week, leaving her and her aide seriously wounded.
In an online press briefing, Peralta acknowledged the lack of capability by the judicial branch to protect its members against criminals.
Based on the report submitted by Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez to the Chief Justice, a total of 31 trial court judges have been killed from January 1999 to November 2019.
Five of them were killed under the Duterte administration.
Just last week, Libmanan Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 56 Judge Jeaneth Gaminde-San Joaquin and her secretary were ambushed by still unidentified armed men while on their way to Naga City, Camarines Sur.
The two sustained injuries and are being treated in hospital.
Peralta asked authorities to conduct an investigation and to make sure the perpetrators are arrested.
He immediately issued a statement saying that “an attack on our judges is an assault on the Rule of Law.”
“We want a security marshal so we would have the power to investigate and file cases before the courts, and the investigation will be faster. The investigation will be faster,” Peralta told reporters.
Peralta cited the case of Ilocos Sur regional trial court (RTC) Judge Mario Banez, who was ambushed in Barangay Mameltac, San Fernando City in La Union while on his way home.
Banez was rushed to a hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
Chief Justice Peralta said the perpetrators of Banez’s death have not been identified and his family has been following up on the case.
Peralta hopes Congress would deliberate on the proposed bill to create PJMS once they are done with the budget deliberations.
“So we are just waiting, But I hope after the recess or after they have deliberated on the budget or approved the budget, and they will calendar the Philippine Judiciary Marshal especially now that another judge was ambushed last Tuesday and we really need your judiciary marshals because the SC cannot give the adequate security,” the chief magistrate pointed out.
Based on the proposed bills in Congress, the PJMS would be an independent, professional, and organized security force that would protect and defend judges, justices, and court officials and employees against any form of threats and violence.
Last November, Sen. Richard Gordon filed Senate Bill No. 118, known as “An Act Creating the Philippine Marshal Service Under the Control and Supervision of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, Appropriating Funds Therefore and for Other Purposes.”
Last March, the House justice committee passed a substitute bill for the creation of PJMS.
Chaired by Leyte 3rd district Rep. Vicente Veloso, the House committee approved the unnumbered substitute measure, which is a consolidation of seven bills.