REGIONAL Trial Court (RTC) judges in Cebu City condemned the murder of Cebu City Assistant Prosecutor Patrick Osorio yesterday and urged the city police to speedily resolve the case.“We hope this killing will be solved immediately by law enforcement authorities and lead to the immediate prosecution of the killers,” RTC judge and Palace of Justice spokesman Gabriel Ingles told . Osorio, whose remains will be delivered to his hometown of Dalaguete, Cebu tomorrow, was riding his Toyota Revo van when he was shot in the abdomen and several parts of his body by a motorcycle-riding gunman in barangay Mambaling, Cebu City at 4:25 p.m last Tuesday. He died the following day inside the intensive care unit of the Perpetual Succor Hospital. Ingles said the Prosecutor's Office is one of the pillars of the criminal justice system and the loss of any prosecutor will affect the speedy resolution of criminal cases. Ingles said Osorio's murder also places the safety of the judges and the rest of the judiciary at risk. “On the part of the judges, while this would create some fear, we are bound to uphold the rule of law without fear,” he said. RTC Executive Judge Meinrado Paredes also said death threats are the “hazards of the profession.” The National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) said they are interrogating four possible witnesses as well as Osorio's colleagues for information on the murder case. NBI-7 Regional Director Medardo de Lemos said their investigation is moving and they are processing the cases handled by Osorio prior to his death. He said they will talk to the Osorio family after the burial for more details on the victim. He said their agency and the police continue to coordinate with each other in investigating the case. The city police said they will ask the Osorio family for permission to have the prosecutor's remains autopsied. Cebu City Police Director Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador said they already have suspects and confirmed that they were “local gun for hire”, one of whom had a pending warrant. Based on the recovered slug from Osorio's remains, Comendador said the gun used is a .45 pistol and did not use local ammunition. Cebu City Police Office homicide section chief Senior Insp. Mario Monilar sought public cooperation in the case. Comendador said a task force will meet to consolidate all information relating to the Osorio murder. Osorio's remains will be brought from the Sacred Heart Chapel to the Deca Homes Subdivision in Minglanilla town, Cebu at noon today. It will be delivered tomorrow to Dalaguete, Cebu for burial at the Rempark Cemetery there on Jan. 17. Correspondents Ador Vincent Mayol and Chito Aragon | 
