TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 27 -- The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Leyte chapter here has condemned the recent shooting that wounded a lawyer and a court personnel while serving a demolition order in Palo town, Leyte province.

In a statement issued late Thursday, the local IBP also urged government authorities for a fair investigation of the incident that almost killed lawyer Alexandra Lacaba, 60, and Tacloban Regional Trial Court personnel Adolfo Petilla, 59, on Wednesday.

"While lawyers and court officers always carry with them risk concomitant to the job, it is not acceptable that violence will be used. If not strongly condemned and if not acted upon swiftly, this incident will establish negative precedence to future litigants," t...