3 sheriffs receive 'mysterious' letters
Amid reports of death threats against court sheriffs at the Chief Justice Ramon Avanceña Hall of Justice, three sheriffs recently received "mysterious" letters from an unidentified source purportedly coming from Imus, Cavite.
Sheriffs Winston Eguia, national president of the Sheriffs Confederation of the Philippines (Scophil), Nicolasito Solas and Francisco Abellon received the letters containing veiled threats last July 31. All three received the letters on the same day. The letters purport to be coming from a regional trial court in Imus, Cavite.
The letters appear to have been mailed in Imus on July 24 and received by post officials in Iloilo on July 26.
"That is unbelievable. The letters were just mailed here in Iloilo and made it appear that it was mailed in Imus. When we mail letters to addresses here in the City it takes about two weeks, how much longer if it is mailed outside of Manila?" Eguia wondered.
Written in tagalog, the writer warned the three against voicing out their opinions on the killing of sheriff Johnny Tugado. Eguia and Abellon, as the president of the Iloilo chapter of Scophil, are in the forefront of calling for the speedy resolution of Tugado's murder. Police authorities have yet to arrest the gunmen and identify the mastermind, although they are already certain that the killing was job-related.
"I cannot understand why they had to kill Johnny for following the court's orders," he expressed.
Eguia said that the letters had something to do with a writ of demolition they served against a local businessman, whom he declined to name.
Though he is not bothered by the threat, Eguia said that he is taking extra precaution. "Just to be sure," he stressed. "The best weapon is prayer."
Eguia said that they will ask the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine Post to look into the matter.
Meanwhile, Eguia said sheriffs in the country will push on with their proposal for their arming.
"We will lobby hard with the Supreme Court for the arming of sheriffs," Eguia said.
He also welcomed the proposal of Sen. Aquilino Pimentel to include them as among those authorized to carry firearms.
"What is happening to us here in Iloilo also happens to other places around the country," Eguia pointed out.
I have long been asking the Supreme Court for the arming of the sheriffs, but the High Tribunal has been very strict with it, he said.
The renewed call for the arming of court sheriffs comes in the wake of the killing of Johnny Tugado last July and the threats against three others in Iloilo.