Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas has called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to place all its units under full alert following the spate of political killings in the country.
“If we cannot keep our localities safe for the LCEs (local chief executives), how can we expect the ordinary individual to feel safe? Let us all be vigilant and keep our localities safe,” Treñas said in a statement.
The mayor “condemned in the strongest possible terms” the brazen killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and eight other people.
Degamo was shot dead by gunmen in military uniforms while the provincial leader was meeting villagers inside his residential compound in Barangay San Isidro, Pamplona town on Saturday morning, March 4.
“This is an act of sheer brutality which has no place in a civilized society,” said Treñas.
“I call on the DILG and the PNP to immediately bring the criminals to justice so that they will answer for their crimes,” he added.
Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered PNP to identify hotspots of political violence in the country and intensify the drive against illegal firearms.
“Ang sinabi ko is to now make an examination, kagaya nung ating ginagawa kapag darating ang election, kung saan ang hotspot. Sabi ko gawin ninyo uli ngayon, don’t think of elections first but think kung ano ‘yung mga hotspot, ‘yung mga mainit na lugar,” he said.
“Ang usual naman talaga na dapat gawin diyan ay hanapin ‘yung illegal firearms. Basta kakaunti ‘yung illegal firearms, kakaunti ‘yung ganyang klaseng krimen,” the President added.IMT
