DOJ chief: Slain Lanao prosecutor handled high-profile cases

Lanao del Norte provincial prosecutor Macadatar Marsangca's death may have something to do with his job, where he handles high-profile cases against local political kingpins, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Thursday. Citing the initial probe conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation and local policemen, De Lima said investigators have ruled out rido or clan war as motive behind Marsangca's killing last Wednesday. "At the moment, they (investigators) have ruled out rido. They are looking at a work-related motive because Prosecutor Marsangca was handling high-profile cases against powerful personalities, political personalities, in that area so I have asked for a list of those cases being handled by the prosecutor," De Lima said at a news briefing in Manila. Marsangca was gunned down Wednesday morning when he was jogging near the Pryce Plaza in Iligan City. (See: Report: Prosecutor shot dead in Lanao del Norte) Prior to that, unidentified people attempted to abduct Cagayan de Oro Prosecutor Irene Meso last August 2, but she managed to escape. However, Prosecutors League of the Philippines (PLP) earlier said the incident occurred July 20. 'The weakest link' Alarmed by the attacks against the two prosecutors, De Lima said she will discuss the matter with Prosecutor General Claro Arellano of the Department of Justice's National Prosecution Service. "This is certainly a cause for serious concern in our department, targeting our prosecutors harassing or kiling them," said De Lima. She added that while witnesses can find sanctuary under the Witness Protection Program, aggrieved parties end up targeting prosecutors instead. "The handling prosecutors become the weakest link instead. They become the targets.They are not adequately protected. They are prone to harassment," De Lima said. Asked whether she is in favor of the PLP's proposal to allow prosecutors to carry firearms without police permits, De Lima said she is for "disarmament." However, she is not closing her doors on the possibility. — RSJ/LBG, GMANews.TV