MANILA, Philippines, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- The administrator in charge of judges in the Philippines is calling on lawmakers to appropriate funds to arm members of the bench.
Supreme Court Administrator Christopher Lock said there is a growing physical threat to judges in the country and many cannot afford to purchase firearms themselves.
"These judges who are receiving death threats must be allowed to be armed because of the risk of their work in deciding cases," The Manila Times quoted Lock on Monday. "We just wish Congress will pass the appropriation we are seeking so that we can provide these equipments to our judges."
Lock's comments, in an interview with the newspaper, followed the murder on Friday of Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court Judge Nathaniel Pattagulan by two men on a motorcycle.
Pattagulan, the ninth judge assassinated since 1999, had survived an assassination attempt in 2005.
Lock said it was "a big possibility" Pattagulan was killed because of a case he handled.
In 2004 guidelines were issued for the arming of judges. They lowered carry permit processing fees and speeded up action on applications, but did not provide money for the weapons.
