DAVAO CITY — The Union of Peoples’ Lawyers in Mindanao ( UPLM) is calling on government to serve justice over the death of Atty. Juan Macababbad who was killed in his compound at Zone 2, Barangay Libertad, Surallah, South Cotabato, Wednesday night.
Police investigations showed, Macababbad was closing the gate of his vicinity when two motorcycles suddenly appeared and shot him hitting his chest and his head.
Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate said ” We rage as we demand justice and strongly condemn his assassination in this era raging impunityin our country today.”
Macababbad was the Vice Chair of the Union of Peoples’ Lawyers in Mindanao ( UPLM) and Chair of our SocSKSarGen Chapter. He was the 65th lawyer killed under the Duterte administration.
Zarate described Macababbad as ” a soft-spoken but fearless and dedicated human rights defender. A Bayan Muna member who believes in the politics of change.”
In 2019 elections, he ran but lost in the vice mayoralty race in their town in Surallah, South Cotabato.
Human rights group Karapatan said Macababbad served as legal counsel to indigenous peoples, teachers, and political prisoners in Soccskargen.
The UPLM said Macababbad received death threats prior to his killing, adding it was clear that the crime was connected to his vocation.
The UPLM called on the government to serve justice for all the jurists killed under the Duterte administration.
“The legal profession is not spared, and our colleagues have become main targets especially those who resist tyranny and defend human rights,” UPLM chairman Antonio Azarcon said on Wednesday.
“If they cannot stop the killings, then they should give way to those who have the moral ascendancy to bring back peace and justice to our country,” he added.
