QC’s Belmonte condemns local exec’s ‘irresponsible’ shoot-to-kill threat

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte condemned Tuesday a local official’s “shoot-to-kill” threat against lockdown violators as the national government placed anew Metro Manila and nearby provinces under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

The mayor stressed that Task Force Disiplina chief and city councilor Rannie Ludovica’s remark is not a policy in Quezon City.

“Ang pahayag po ng pinuno ng Task Force Disiplina na si Konsehal Rannie Ludovica ay amin pong kinokondena. Ito po ay mali, it is inappropriate, it is irresponsible,” Belmonte said in a Palace press briefing.

(We condemn the pronouncement of Task Force Disiplina head, Councilor Rannie Ludovica. This is wrong, it is inappropriate, it is irresponsible.)

Ludovica said in his Facebook account that MECQ violators should be shot dead.

The controversial post, which was first reported by online news site Rappler, has already been taken down.

Belmonte did not mention any possible action against the local official. She also echoed Ludovica’s clarification that the post was made “out of frustration” on the return of MECQ in Metro Manila.

The Quezon City chief executive likewise claimed that Rappler reported the incident as if the statement was the local government’s policy.

“Wala naman pong katotohanan sa kaniyang pinost. Wala po siyang masamang intensyon pero aminado po siya na while his feelings might be valid, ang kaniya pong paraan para ipalabas ang kaniyang damdamin ay mali,” Belmonte said.

(There is no truth to his post. He has no bad intention but he admitted that while his feelings might be valid, the manner by which he expressed his feeling was wrong.)

“At siya po ay humingi ng kapatawaran kaagad sa amin dito sa Lungsod kasi ang Rappler noong ini-report nila ito, ipinalabas nila na ito ay polisiya ng Lungsod Quezon,” she added.

(And he asked for forgiveness from us here in the City because Rapple, when it reported this issue, made it appear like it is a policy in Quezon City.)

In its report, however, Rappler did not say that Ludovica’s statement was the official policy of Quezon City.

KGA