Pimentel condemns killing of Zamboanga City RTC Judge

Senator Aquillino "Koko" Pimentel III condemned as "utterly senseless" the murder of Zamboanga City RTC Judge Reynerio Estacio Sr., early Friday morning (Feb. 28).

Newspaper reports indicated that "Two motorcycle-riding men shot Estacio seven times in front of his house on Narra Drive, Tugbungan village, as he was leaving for work around 7:40 a.m."

The senator from Mindanao said that "Judge Estacio had built up a solid reputation for being straightforward as a jurist and of doing his duty as he saw fit."

The killers should therefore "be identified, arrested and prosecuted soonest," he added.

"Otherwise, the killing would end up merely as a cipher on the statistics of murders and mayhem in Mindanao," Pimentel said.

Pimentel also urged the Supreme Court to use some of its funds to extend support to Mrs. Teresita Estacio, the widow of the Judge, and his family.

Pimentel is the chair of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights.