By Gill H. Boehringer
The murder this week of Attorney Joshua Lavega Abrina is the eleventh
lawyer killed President Marcos Jr. The trend is seriously concerning: 7
of the 11 were killed since September 1, 2024. As there is some
confusion about the numbers killed we list them here. The research for
this comes from the Monitoring Committee on Attacks on Lawyers of the
International Association of People’s Lawyers, of which I am Co-Chair
along with Prof. Stuart Russell. (We have noted a list of 8 in a recent
edition of Rappler.)
Lawyers killed (11):
Atty. Danny Pondevilla Dec. 20, 2022
Atty. Elmer Mape Aug. 22, 2023
Atty Maria Alzate Sept. 14, 2023
Prosecutor Eleanor dela Peña June 10, 2024
Atty. Dennis Santos Sept. 1, 2024
Legal Officer Col. Rolando Escalona Jr Nov. 22, 2024
Atty Bai Maceda Lidasan-Abo March 26, 2025
Atty Junisa Kimamao March 17, 2025
Atty Ibrahim Pendatu March 17, 2025
Atty Ali Macalintal June 23, 2025
Atty Joshua Abrina Sept.17, 2025
A full account of the danger to lawyers must also include those who
were murderously attacked but had the good fortune to survive. This is
especially relevant in the present circumstances as it appears that a
number of those who survived along with Atty Abrina may have been
killed because they were not willing to be part of a corrupt scheme.
Philippine Lawyers Murdered Under Marcos Jr: Eleven Dead, Seven in Past Year
