We were shocked by the news that Tanauan City Mayor Antonio Halili was shot dead in broad daylight during a flag-raising ceremony on July 2. A day later, Mayor Ferdinand Bote of General Tinio, Nueva Ecija was shot by an unidentified assailant upon getting inside his car. On July 7, Vice Mayor Alex Lubigan of Trece Martires town in Cavite was killed aboard his car by unidentified gunmen. Four days later, Vice Mayor Al-Rashid Mohammad Ali of Sapa-Sapa town in Tawi-Tawi was shot dead by motorcyle-riding gunmen in Zamboanga City.
Four LGU officials were killed in just half a month. These recent killing incidents of local government officials, particularly mayors and vice mayors, are not new. According to a consolidated report by ABS-CBN, these slain officials were just four of 15 mayors and vice mayors who were killed during the two-year Duterte administration.
Because of the President’s firm stance against illegal drugs, some of the killings of local officials were associated with his intensified anti-illegal drug campaign. We must note that the many slain officials were not in the narco list. The assassination of Mayor Bote, according to the investigations, was allegedly ordered by a contractor over a P96-million ecotourism contract.
Still, these brazen acts of violence are alarming. We wake up every day worried about ourselves, even our families, because we do not feel safe anymore. Whether we are government officials or just normal citizens, we deserve to demand the government our safety and security. Therefore, I call on the President to do his best in ensuring the safety and security of the Filipino people. We are leaning toward his campaign promises but the time of promises is over. The entire nation is now expecting his delivery of actual results. I hope he does not disappoint all of us.
We must ask, how can these criminals be so bold as to execute such horrible acts under the administration of a President who is tough on crime? Clearly, these criminals are not afraid of the police. So perhaps the government can benefit from the approach and style in restoring and maintaining peace and order in the country.
There could also be a distrust in the judicial system. Perhaps some people do not fear breaking the law because of perceived weaknesses in the justice system. Law offenders think that they can easily get away with the crimes they have committed.
It is about time that the President correct what is wrong. If he is serious about transforming this country into a better Philippines, he must be serious about safeguarding the nation and ensuring the peace and order of our communities.