Palace condemns Calbayog mayor slay: Political violence has no place in democracy

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Tuesday condemned the killing of Calbayog City, Samar province Mayor Ronald Aquino, fearing it is the beginning of political violence due to the approaching 2022 elections.

“Kinukundena po natin iyan dahil ang karapatang mabuhay po ay ang pinakaimportanteng karapatan. Nanunumbalik po kami at naalarma na dahil isang mayor po ang pinatay baka ito’y simula na naman ng patayan dahil sa pulitika sa panahon na papalapit na ang eleksyon,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an online briefing.

(We condemn this because the right to life is the most important right. We are alarmed that a mayor was killed, perhaps, because it is the start of political killings with the election season coming.)

“Ang demokrasya po, tao po ang humahalal at ang ating panawagan, hayaan po nating maghalal ang taumbayan sa pamamagitan ng pagpili ng sa tingin nila ang pinakaepektibong mga mamumuno. At saka itong political violence po has no place in a democracy. Kinukundena po natin iyan,” he went on.

(In a democracy, people are the ones who elect and our call is to let the public decide whom they want as leaders. This political violence has no place in a democracy. We condemn this incident.)

Aquino was on his way to his son’s birthday celebration when a group of unidentified men fired at his vehicle.

The Calbayog mayor died along with two of his security personnel.

Police said it was a case of shootout but Samar 1st District Rep. Edgar Sarmiento, Aquino’s friend, dubbed it as an ambush and called on the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct an impartial investigation.

JPV