The board of officers and directors of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Negros Oriental chapter has passed and approved a resolution expressing their shock and indignation against persons responsible for the brutal killing of Atty. Ramon Eduardo Elesteria in Bayawan City.
Atty. Elesteria was shot dead in the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 29, as he was leaving the court house in Bayawan City, Negros Oriental.
Initial police investigation disclosed Elesteria was shot at close range twice in the chest and in the head while he was already lying on the ground.
The former PAO lawyer was in Bayawan City for the scheduled hearing of a drugs case of which he is the counsel for the accused.
The IBP Negros Oriental chapter, headed by Atty. Cyrus Riconalla, issued Resolution No. 2015-07, reiterating its vehement condemnation to the brutal, dastardly and cowardly acts of shooting and killing members of the legal profession. Such acts have no proper place in the Philippine Society, especially in the province of Negros Oriental, the resolution said.
Unsolved killings of lawyers included that of Judge Orlando Velasco in 2007, Eleazar Casipong, Archer Baldwin Martinez, Manolo Zerna and Elesteria. Three of the lawyers were killed in Bayawan City, one in Dumaguete City and another in Tanjay City.
The resolution further reads that lawyers represent a system of securing due process to every individual, a profession that intends to eradicate violence and serve the ends of justice. Thus, it is horrific that some of us become victims of violence.
Many of these crimes remained unsolved. Thus, the IBP-Negros Oriental chapter is urging the Philippine National Police in the province headed by Sr. Supt. Dionardo Carlos, the Bayawan City police headed by Supt. Dominiciano Distrito, Jr. and all concerned agencies of government to swiftly investigate these crimes and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Likewise, the IBP also calls on the public to cooperate in the investigation, stating that any information given will be crucial in stopping such vicious acts.
In lieu of this development, the IBP Negros Oriental chapter is urging the public to join hands in seeking justice for all victims of shooting incidents in the province, through an indignation march and rally scheduled October 6 at the Aquino Freedom Park. A march to start from the Hall of Justice in Piapi, Dumaguete at 5 o’clock in the afternoon will precede the indignation rally.
Initial investigation disclosed, the killing of Elesteria was properly planned and executed by two suspects in their 20s, using Cal. 45 and 9 mm pistols.
City police chief Distrito said the two suspects, whose faces were not covered, were seen in the vicinity of the Hall of Justice in Bayawan before the incident.
A Regional Trial Court judge described Elesteria as a lawyer who is very professional, still appearing in his court sala as counsel for drug suspects even at the time he headed the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO).
RTC Branch 30 Judge Crescencio Tan Jr said Elesteria was soft-spoken and never had a heated argument with prosecutors.
Judge Tan sees no reason for the merciless killing of the 68-year old lawyer who is handling few “swertres” (illegal gambling) and illegal drugs cases in Dumaguete. He said these are not enough reasons for Elesteria to be killed.
Elesteria had retired from the government service as head of the Public Attorney’s Office.
Tan also expressed concern over their safety, saying “we are all worried and concerned about our own security, and that we are again exercising extra efforts in security while the executive judge has given instructions to tighten security at the Hall of Justice in Dumaguete, and that we should be careful in our movements,” he said.
At present, no one is allowed at the Hall of Justice without proper identification and purpose. (PNA)
