Politics · Philippines Bureau
Basilan judge shot dead in Zamboanga City gun attack
A Regional Trial Court judge from Basilan province was fatally shot in Zamboanga City on Thursday, sparking calls for justice from the Supreme Court, legal groups, and provincial officials. Joseph Wee Sit, presiding judge of RTC Branch 2, was killed in the brazen daylight attack.
LSN Philippines ·
ZAMBOANGA CITY — A judge in Basilan province was shot and killed during a gun attack in Zamboanga City on Thursday morning, prompting expressions of outrage and demands for accountability from the nation's highest court and legal community.
Joseph Wee Sit, presiding judge of Regional Trial Court Branch 2 in Basilan, was struck down in the incident, which authorities are now investigating. The attack represents another high-profile killing in the volatile Mindanao region and has raised concerns about the safety of judicial officers.
The Supreme Court released a statement mourning Sit's death and calling for a swift and thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the killing. Legal organizations and provincial officials in Zamboanga del Sur also condemned the attack, emphasizing the need to bring those responsible to justice.
The incident underscores ongoing security challenges facing members of the judiciary in conflict-affected areas of the country. Authorities have begun preliminary investigations into the motive and identity of the perpetrators.