Press Release
May 15, 2018

SEN. LEILA M. DE LIMA’S STATEMENT ON THE KILLING OF QUEZON CITY DEPUTY PROSECUTOR ROGELIO VELASCO

I join the whole Justice Department and our nation in strongly condemning the brazen killing of Quezon City Deputy Prosecutor Rogelio Velasco. He was with his two daughters when he was ambushed inside his vehicle by unidentified men in broad daylight last May 11. Thank God his daughters were safe, but I cannot imagine the toll and the trauma this heinous crime has left them with. A serious and thorough investigation must be done to punish the perpetrators and give justice to Atty. Velasco and his family.

Mga walang konsensya ang nasa likod ng karumal-dumal na pagpatay sa isang abogado at prosecutor na iginagalang at hinahangaan sa kanyang serbisyo. Sobra na po ito! Palala nang palala ang ganitong klaseng karahasan sa ating bansa.

Tinatawagan ko ang Pangulong Duterte at ang ating kapulisan, kasama na ang National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), na madaliang bigyan ng hustisya ang kamatayan ni Atty. Velasco. Kung magagawa natin ito ay maipapakita natin sa masasamang elemento sa ating lipunan na hindi natin papalampasin ang anumang atake laban sa ating mga kasamahan sa paglaban sa krimen.

The attacks against lawyers and officials in the justice sector are also attacks against the legal profession and the judicial system. The spate of killings against these professionals is the compelling reason why I filed Senate Bill No. (SBN) 1721, amending Article 14 of the Revised Penal Code, to protect legal professionals and justice sector officials by increasing penalties against crimes committed against them.

Hindi solusyon ang karahasan. Dahil sa kultura ng karahasan na ipinatupad sa ilalim ng administrasyong ito, naging lalong marahas na rin ang mga kriminal at nagiging peligroso ang hanapbuhay ng ating mga law enforcement officials.

Kung ang Pangulo mismo, kasama na ang mga kaalyado niyang pinuno ang pasimuno at naghihikayat ng mga patayan; kung pinipili pa rin ng marami sa atin na masanay sa pananahimik at pagwawalang-kibo, ilang libong abogado, ilang libong inosenteng bata, ilang libong maralitang Pilipino pa ang mabibiktima?

I call on the President to give justice to the family of Prosecutor Velasco, uphold the rule of law, protect our brethrens in the justice sector, and end the culture of violence that is slowly killing our country.

Sama-sama tayong manindigan para sa hustisya sa pagkamatay ni Prosecutor Velasco, at manawagan ng katarungan para sa sambayanan.

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