Trial court judge shot dead in La Union; guns for judicial execs pushed

By Freddie Lazaro

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union  – Surigao del Sur 2nd Rep. Johnny Pimentel on Wednesday renewed his call for the creation of up to 3,000 new positions for armed judicial protection officers.

“We cannot allow these brazen attacks on judges to go on without a forceful answer,” said Pimentel, a Deputy Speaker in the 18th Congress.

Pimentel was reacting to the killing of Tagudin, Ilocos Sur Regional Trial Court Branch 25 Judge Mario Anacleto Bañez who was 54.

“Our hearts go out to the family of Judge Bañez, and our thoughts and prayers are with them,” Pimentel said.

Banez died when unidentified suspects ambushed him while on his way home to his family here in San Fernando City Tuesday afternoon.

Lt. Col. Silverio Ordinado, spokesperson of the La Union police provincial office, confirmed that Judge Anacleto Mario Marrero Bañez, 53, of the RTC branch 25 in Tagudin, Ilocos Sur, was driving home aboard his Hyundai Accent vehicle with plate number ACL 1508 when the assassins began firing at him along Barangay Mameltac in San Fernando City at around 5:40 p.m.

The judge did not reach the Bethany Hospital alive where he was rushed after the incident.

Initial reports said the judge suffered a headshot.

Ordinado said the La Union police launched a thorough investigation on the incident, while police stations in nearby towns in San Fernando City have launched dragnet operations against the suspects, who allegedly used a blue colored motorcycle as getaway vehicle from the crime scene.

Banez reportedly dismissed murder charges filed against a female human rights worker recently by the military.

Last week, Pimentel expressed support behind Supreme Court Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta’s initiative to establish a new protective service patterned after the United States Marshals Service’s (USMS) Judicial Security Division (JSD).

In America, the USMS’s JSD protects judges and justices, guards court proceedings and conferences, and secures buildings and properties used by members of the judiciary.

The division also conducts “protective investigations” of potential security threats to members of the judiciary.

The USMS currently has 3,900 marshals and investigators. The service also retains private contractors that provide more than 4,000 bailiffs or court security officers (CSOs) in America.