The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) condemned the killing of Prosecutor Eleanor Dela Peña in Barangay Aplaya, Digos City, Davao del Sur on June 10. The group said the killing of lawyers creates fear and intimidation in their profession.

Dela Peña is the fourth lawyer assassinated under the Marcos regime. As of July 2022, NUPL has recorded 43 incidents of attacks on lawyers, including six cases of attempted murder.

Dela Peña is known by her fellow lawyers in the Davao region as a loyal public servant and a loving mother to her four children. She served as Assistant Provincial Prosecutor in Davao Occidental and former president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Davao City.

“When perpetrators are not held accountable, the threat of violence discourages lawyers from taking on certain professional duties and hinders their ability to carry out their responsibilities effectively,” NUPL said.

They said they are outraged that the stop or prevention of attacks on members of the legal profession remains merely rhetorical. Nevertheless, NUPL maintained that despite the threats to their lives and profession, they “refuse to live in fear and demand that our safety and security be ensured, knowing that the independent exercise of our profession is crucial for maintaining the rule of law and upholding justice,” they said.

They demand for authorities to swiftly and thoroughly investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of Prosecutor Dela Peña’s murder.