MANILA, Philippines - A university president is asking Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Luisito Cortez to resign for not having "moral courage" to take the murder case of Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., who is suspected of leading the massacre of 57 innocent civilians in Maguindanao province last November 23.

"There is such a thing as moral courage or intellectual courage. We were taught in law school of our responsibilities, and it comes along with the dangers of the job," Lutgardo Barbo, a lawyer and president of the Philippine Normal University, told ABS-CBN's Umagang Kay Ganda.

He added: "If you have moral integrity and intellectual courage you will set that aside (threat on ones life). You do your job otherwise, look for another job and get employed elsewhere."

Barbo said Cortez "has no business to be in that position" if he refuses to handle a "dangerous" murder case. He said that instead of being fearful of his own life and his family's, Cortez should be grateful enough to have been given an opportunity "to die a meaningful death, especially for your country."

The university president added that there is no certainty that Cortez would be killed while trying the Ampatuan murder case.

Judge Antonio Eugenio, president of the Philippine Judges Association, said inhibiting from the Ampatuan murder case was Cortez's personal call.

Eugenio would not castigate Cortez but admitted that he was the first judge to refuse a case right after the raffle and without even looking at the case's records.

Without directly defending the judge, Eugenio said that there was no mention in their oath of office that judges should accept cases even if it would endanger their lives.

Barbo said Cortez's refusal to take the case might dissuade witnesses from testifying against the suspects. "Why would I talk when the judges themselves are afraid [to handle the case]," he said.

He added that Cortez's move might set a precedent and be cited by other judges to refuse cases similar to the Maguindanao mayor's murder case.

He said Cortez's decision also contributes to the "destruction not only of the institutions, but the country."

Aside from Cortez, reports said other judges in the Quezon City Regional Trial Court have expressed apprehensions in handling the case.

The judge's inhibition prompted Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno to meet with Quezon City judges on Wednesday. Puno said any judge chosen to take on the massacre case would be given full security.

The case was re-raffled on Thursday to Judge Jocelyn Solis Reyes of QCRTC Branch 221.