Vice President Leni Robredo has raised the alarm over the killing of Los Baños, Laguna Mayor Caesar Perez inside the municipal hall compound, saying such criminality seems to have become normal nowadays.
In her weekly program "BISErbisyong Leni," she questioned the security lapses inside the municipal hall.
“The area should be a secure place since it is the seat of government. Based on reports, the police station is just a kilometer away. Why is this happening?” she asked.
“But what is more scary is that it was not just the first time. Even inside a hospitlal… That is too brazen. Even inside a court, one could get shot. Even a mayor, isn’t it that happened to him? As if those things… those killings were just normal,” she asked.
Robredo was referring to the late Tanauan City, Batangas Mayor Antonio Halili who was shot during a flag-raising ceremony.
“So my question is, why are we letting this happen? And after all those things, was there anyone who got punished? Did anyone get punished? This is hard because when things like this happen and no one gets punished, then that could be the fault of the government not being able to protect its people,” she said.
"So I myself get more afraid. I am more afraid of impunity as a whole that everything seems to be very normal, just like what happened to the mayor, a judge, a lawyer, a mediaman who were all killed. Why is this so? Why let these to happen? Who could be responsible to go after these perpetrators? Because they are the ones accountable to give them justice for the peace of mind of not only the victims’ kin but also for the people,” she added.
But presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that the government is doing all it can to investigate the incident.
"Iniimbestigahan at bibigyan po natin ng remedyo, sang-ayon sa local na batas natin, ang mga mahal sa buhay ni Mayor," he told reporters.
(We are investigating and will give remedy, pursuant to our law, to the loved ones of the Mayor.)
"At dahil pare-pareho naman po kaming mga abogado, kung may ebidensya siya na talagang gobyerno ang pumatay, isampa po ang kaso," he added.
(And because we're all lawyers, if she has evidence that it was the government who killed Perez, she should file it.)
On Dec. 3 at 8:40 p.m., Perez just got back from a spa in Barangay Baybayin when the unidentified suspects shot him at the back of his head at the municipal hall building.
He was declared dead at the hospital by his attending physician around 9:25 p.m.
Duterte last year had included Perez in a list of politicians with alleged links to illegal drugs. The mayor had denied this and blamed politics for the accusation.
The case build-up against those in the narco-list is still ongoing, said Roque.
Asked if the public should be alarmed over the killings, Roque said,
"Hindi naman po siguro dahil ginagampanan naman po ng Estado ang kaniyang obligasyon."
(Perhaps not because the State is fulfilling its obligation.)
Just hours before Perez was shot, Duterte, at a ceremonial destruction of seized illegal drugs at a facility in Cavite, told law enforcers and prosecutors to "never waver" in the fight against the narcotics trade despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Me, as mayor and now as President, I have to protect every man, woman, and child from the evils of drugs. Ayaw ninyong maniwala? Kayo. Basta sinabi ko, ang laro dito, patayan, because nakita mo naman, marami naman akong pulis na patay," he said.
(You don't believe me? That's up to you. But I've already said, this
is a game of death, because, as you have seen, many of my policemen already died.)
"Now, I’m telling the law enforcement, the uniformed personnel: Do your duty. Do it in accordance with law, pero (but) be alert and be wise. Alam mo, kaunting pagkamali lang, barilin mo na. Because if you are not — maunahan ka o maalanganin ka, na-leche na. I will assume full legal responsibility," he added.
(Just a small wrong move, then shoot. Because if you are not – they do the first move or you hesitate, then that's going to be a problem. I will assume full legal responsibility.)
