Palace condemns murder of Bulacan judge

Malacañang has condemned the murder of Judge Wilfredo Nieves of the Bulacan Regional Trial Court Branch in Malolos on Wednesday (Nov. 11).

Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said the government is doing everything possible to arrest the perpetrators.

“The killers of Judge (Wilfredo) Nieves are being tracked as the police and the government are determined to bring them to the bar of justice. We recall that Judge Nieves was responsible for the speedy trial of a high-profile carnapping case, which resulted in the conviction of known carnapping suspects. We condemn this act of violence. The government is doing everything possible to bring them to the bar of justice,” Secretary Coloma said.

Nieves was gunned down while on his way home from his courtroom at the Capitol Compound.

Reports said the judge was ambushed at an intersection near the Malolos Industrial Park along MacArthur Highway in Barangay Tikay at about 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday.

A statement from the Supreme Court said Judge Nieves succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds in different parts of the body.

When asked to comment on the possibility of allowing judges to carry guns for security reasons, Coloma said it is up to the Supreme Court to decide on the matter.

“The Supreme Court is the administrator of the judicial system and they are in the best position to determine what arrangements are appropriate for the line of work that they perform. The government, through its security agencies, is willing to work with the judiciary in determining what are the appropriate measures for improving or ensuring the security of our court officials,” he explained.

The Regional Trial Court Judges Association of Bulacan also condemned the murder, demanding that “this senseless killing be solved immediately and that the perpetrators be brought to justice". (PCOO News Release)