MANILA -- Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Monday said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)'s regional office has been ordered to investigate the case of Oriental Mindoro Provincial Prosecutor Josephine Caranto-Olivar who was shot and wounded at her home.
Olivar was shot Monday morning while entering her house, Justice Undersecretary and spokesperson Markk Perete said, noting that the prosecutor had to undergo a CT scan for her wounds.
Olivar sustained five gunshot wounds -- two in the head and three in the body. She will have to undergo an operation for wounds sustained in the body.
"We ask for prayers for the safety of PP Olivar and her family. She's still in the hospital fighting for her life. We don't have enough info yet regarding the possible motive, but chances are, it's probably work-related. I have instructed the NBI, through Director [Dante] Gierran and the regional director, to immediately gather the evidence and conduct a thorough investigation," Guevarra said.
"Our prosecutors' lives are always at risk due to the nature of their job. We're hoping that the new Congress will be more sympathetic to the bill providing survivorship benefits to the prosecution service," he said. (PNA)