QC judge dismissal over search warrants sought

Several groups on Friday called for the dismissal or resignation of Quezon City (QC) Executive Judge Cecilyn Burgos-Villavert for issuing “poisoned tree of search warrants” against several activists critical of the administration. Relatives of individuals arrested due to the warrants issued by Burgos-Villavert trooped to the Quezon City Hall of Justice to call on the judge to step down from her post. They were accompanied by the groups Karapatan, Kapatid and Selda. They said Burgos-Villavert was “single-handedly responsible” for the multiple search warrants for alleged illegal possession of firearms and explosives of the activists. Fides Lim, spokesperson for Kapatid, said they would ask the Supreme Court to investigate Burgos-Villavert over the search warrants. A search warrant from Burgos-Villavert led to the March 7 operation that killed nine activists in Calabarzon, also dubbed “Bloody Sunday.”