Sen. Bam Aquino. INQUIRER.net file photo / CATHY MIRANDA
Following the killings of several local government officials, Senator Bam Aquino urged the Senate to conduct an investigation into the recent attacks against several mayors and vice mayors in different part of the country.
“Manindigan na tayo laban sa kultura ng karahasan sa ating bayan. Pamilyang Pilipino ang naiiwan at nasasaktan sa alitan at patayan,” the senator said.
(Let’s stood up against the culture of violence in our country. Filipino families are being left hurt in this conflict and killings.)
“Hindi sagot ang mala-martial law na patayan at intimidasyon sa mga problema ng bayan,” he added.
(Martial law-like killings and intimidation are not the solution to the present problems in our country.)
The senator filed Senate Resolution No. 901, which calls on the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, chaired by Senator Panfilo Lacson, to look into the killings, which Aquino says “have caused grave concern, fear, insecurity, and distress in the general populace.”
With some of the attacks happening in broad daylight, the killings of local government officials emphasize the growing culture of impunity and escalating violence that threatens to permeate Philippine society today, Aquino said.
He also stressed the need to investigate the attacks to assure the public that the government is capable of maintaining peace and order and protecting the lives of the Filipino people.
“Ngayong pati sa city hall mismo pinapatay ang matataas na opisyal ng gobyerno, mahalagang malaman natin kung kaya pa ba ng pamahalaan na protektahan ang mga ordinaryong Pilipino,” Aquino said.
(Even at city hall premises, government officials are being killed. It is important that we know if authorities are still capable of protecting our ordinary Filipinos.)
Several local leaders have been assassinated in different parts of the country, with the killing of La Union Mayor Alexander Buquing of Sudipen town, as the most recent one. /jpv
READ: La Union town mayor, along with driver and cop, killed in ambush