Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director Gen. Oscar Albayalde ensured the safety of the public as investigators are trying to resolve the killings of three top local officials.
“Let me assure the public that your PNP is working hard in making sure that these criminals would be arrested and put behind bars, and that safety and security is assured for all Filipinos,” Albayalde said in a press briefing at Camp Crame on Monday.
The PNP chief said he instructed regional directors and local police chiefs to intensify anti-crime operations through police visibility, creation of random checkpoints, and focused law enforcement as a preparation for the 2019 elections.
“I am directing the command group and the regional directors to review and launch early security placing security measures ahead of the 2019 midterm elections in May next year […] to prevent election-related violence,” Albayalde said.
According to Police Regional Office 4-A Director Chief Supt. Edward Carranza, investigators are looking at different angles in the killing of Trece Martires Vice Mayor Alexander Lubigan but politics allegedly appear as a probable motive.
Lubigan, who is in his third and final term as vice mayor, was shot multiple times inside his car on Saturday, in front of a hospital in the said city. His death came after he expressed his desire to run for mayor.
He is the third local executive to be killed in a span of a week, after Mayor Antonio Halili of Tanauan City, Batangas was shot from afar during the local government’s flag ceremony, and Mayor Ferdinand Bote of General Tinio, Nueva Ecija was ambushed in Cabanatuan City.
Too early?
Meanwhile, Albayalde also responded to questions whether PNP is expecting a bloody campaign period, as three local officials have already been slain with eleven months to go before the next elections.
“Hindi naman siguro, kasi dito sa ating bansa, kapag before, during and after the elections, there are always shooting incidents involving or victimizing ‘yong natalo ‘yong kandidato or even ‘yong nanalo,” he said.
He also suggested that early preparations would be better than scrambling to prevent violence from spreading later on.
“Hindi naman siguro masyadong maaga ito, and this is the very reason para ma-prevent natin na maging bloody ito. There are trends dito sa ating bansa na every election, merong ganyang mga incidents,” Albayalde explained.
“To prevent this, dapat maaga rin ang ating preparation. I think it’s not too early, hindi natin pwedeng sabihin na ito ay maaga pa. Mas maaga, mas maganda actually,” he added. /vvp