MANILA (4th UPDATE) - A female judge of a Manila regional trial court (RTC) was shot dead Wednesday afternoon inside her office allegedly by her clerk, according to the Manila Police District (MPD).

The victim was identified as Maria Teresa Abadilla, 44, judge of Manila RTC Branch 45. She is the daughter of the late Col. Rolando Abadilla, a military officer during the Marcos regime, and had previously worked in the office of then Supreme Court Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin and Teresita De Castro.

A doctor from the Medical Center Manila where Abadilla was brought pronounced her dead-on-arrival at 3:15 p.m., according to the MPD.

Abadilla sustained gunshot wounds in the head, MPD Homicide Division chief Capt. Henry Navarro said in an interview on TeleRadyo.

The shooting took place at about 2:45 p.m., based on a police report. Manila RTC Branch 45 is located at the 5th floor of the Manila City Hall.

The alleged gunman, Atty. Amador Rebato, 42, also died after shooting himself inside the judge’s office, according to police.

Navarro said Rebato was submitting his resignation letter to Abadilla before the shooting incident happened. He arrived there with his sister.

Rebato contracted COVID-19 in August and got depressed after his recovery which later affected his performance at work, said Navarro.

“Naapektuhan po noon ang kanyang trabaho… Yun din po ang naging sanhi na minsan ay kino-caution siya noong judge [dahil nagkakaroon sila] ng pending na mga dokumento,” Navarro said.

(His depression affected his work. That was the reason why he was cautioned by the judge because some documents were already left pending.)

Rebato and the judge did not have any altercation during their 15-minute long conversation, according to a witness, said Navarro.

A report though by retired Lt. Col. Arsenio Riparip, chief of the Manila City Security Force, to Manila City Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso stated that before the shooting incident, "Rebato was seen feeling uneasy and shuddering while being questioned by Judge Abadilla."

Sa opisyal na report ng City Security Force kay Mayor @IskoMoreno sinasabing nagpaplano nang mag-resign ang suspek na si Rebato matapos magka-#COVID19 base narin sa salaysay ng testigo. https://t.co/wtuJ4n3kLv pic.twitter.com/BheVOeP4Un

— Johnson L. Manabat (@JohnsonManabat) November 11, 2020

Navarro said the witness was shocked when Rebato pulled out his gun and shot the judge in her head.

“Nagulat na lang po ang witness natin na mismo sa opisina ng pinangyarihan ng krimen na bumunot ng baril si Atty. Rebato. Napansin niya rin na bago bumunot ay aligaga na po at di mapakali na nanginginig ang kanyang kamay,” he said.

(The witness was shocked that it happened inside the office and when Rebato pulled out his gun. The witness noticed that before he pulled the gun, he was frantic and his hands were shaking.)

“Hindi na po siya nanutok ng ibang tao o nanghabol. Wala na po siyang dinamay kundi ang sarili niya lang po.”

(He did not target anyone else or pointed his gun at anyone. He did not shoot anyone else except himself.)

Navarro said Rebato's sister voluntarily gave a statement and is cooperating with authorities.

Judges, officials condemn 'senseless' killing

Bersamin, who described Abadilla as "hardworking", said he is saddened by her “senseless death.”

“She was like family to me and my wife. She was a hardworking judge. Her death, which was senseless, diminishes us all. I condole with the Abadilla family, and we pray that their profound grief over the tragedy be tempered by the thought that we share their irreparable loss,” Bersamin said.

Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta, in a statement, said he directed the Court Administrator to put stricter measures in courthouses to prevent such circumstances from happening.

“The passing of Judge Abadilla is a big loss to the judiciary because I personally know her to be an upright and highly competent magistrate…. I know very well her family as we come from the same province,” said Peralta.

Senator Richard Gordon condemned the killing and said the cruelty against magistrates should stop.

“We strongly condemn the remorseless murder of Manila RTC Judge Maria Theresa Abadilla. This is truly unforgiveable. It has never been and should never be acceptable that we allow our citizens to be killed especially our judges,” Gordon said.

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The killing of the judge inside her office shows that "even our judges are not safe from criminals," he said.

Gordon revived his push for the passage of a bill that would create a security service for members of the judiciary.

• Gordon bats for bill to protect magistrates after Manila judge's slay

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines condoled with the families of deceased.

"We fervently pray for the repose of their souls and for fortitude, healing, and peace among their families, friends, and loved ones," IBP President Domingo Egon Cayosa said in a statement.

"It is ironic that while the IBP and the Philippine Medical Association and the Philippine Psychiatric Association were conducting a webinar on how to manage stress and mental health in the legal profession in the midst of the COVID 19 pandemic, we learn of the tragic shootings and deaths," he said.

Cayosa lamented that the stressful profession of lawyers has been "compounded by the unabated killings of judges, prosecutors, and lawyers, the additional risks and burdens brought by the COVID 19 pandemic, and the creeping culture of violence and impunity in our society."

"IBP will continue to help lawyers handle stress and improve their personal security. We hope that government and all sectors will cooperate to ensure that differences may be resolved responsibly, quickly and peacefully," he said.— With reports from Mike Navallo and Johnson Manabat, ABS-CBN News

EDITOR'S NOTE: A group in the Philippines is dedicated to addressing those who have suicidal tendencies.

The crisis hotlines of the Natasha Goulbourn Foundation aim to make these individuals feel that someone is ready to listen to them.

These are their hotline numbers:

Information and Crisis Intervention Center
(02) 804-HOPE (4673)
0917-558-HOPE (4673) or (632) 211-4550
0917-852-HOPE (4673) or (632) 964-6876
0917-842-HOPE (4673) or (632) 964-4084

In Touch Crisis Lines:
0917-572-HOPE or (632) 211-1305
(02) 893-7606 (24/7)
(02) 893-7603 (Mon-Fri, 9 am-5 pm)
Globe (63917) 800.1123 or (632) 506.7314
Sun (63922) 893.8944 or (632) 346.8776