IBP-Vicaya supports judge accused in colleague's slay

By Charlie Lagasca

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) chapter here rallied behind a retired judge who was recently charged with the murder of a colleague two years ago. 

In a manifesto, the IBP-Nueva Vizcaya chapter led by Emmanuel Rasing said retired Judge Jose Rosales, of the Regional Trial Court Branch 27 here, is not capable of committing such crime. 

Rosales, 76, is facing charges after recaptured New Bilibid Prison (NBP) detainee Rommel Laciste, a murder convict, claimed the retired judge paid them P100,000 to kill human rights lawyer Ernesto Salunat. 

Salunat, 64, a former IBP Northern Luzon governor and provincial campaign manager of the Liberal Party in the 2010 elections, was shot dead in front of the municipal trial court in Solano town here on June 22, 2010.   

“Judge Rosales is seen as an honest, prudent, just and peace-loving person,” and “implicating…(him) in (Salunat’s killing) is seen as nothing but a mere ploy to divert the attention of the intelligence and law enforcement community away from the real perpetrators of the crime,” according to the manifesto. 

The IBP members also offered to help Rosales in his legal defense even as they assured him of their “continuing quest for justice” for Salunat and his family.

Among the signatories to the manifesto were former governor Rodolfo Agbayani, former board members Reonel Saddul and Primo Marcos, former provincial prosecutor Celerino Jandoc, provincial administrator Edu Balgos, former provincial legal officer Basilio Rupisan, provincial elections officer Abraham Asuncion and former municipal elections officer Fidel Santos.