Guevarra defends Duterte and 'late' actions on high lawyer killings Mar 15, 2021 4:24 PM PHT President Rodrigo Duterte should not be blamed for the high number of lawyer killings under his term, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said during a press briefing in Malacañang which he joined on Monday, March 15. He said this in the face of new data that shows the staggering high number of lawyers killed during his close to 5 years in office compared to the combined 44 years of former presidents. "Nangyayari 'yan (that happens) because of circumstances, and not because of whoever is the head of the present administration," said Guevarra.