House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (File photo by MARIANNE BERMUDEZ / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has called for an emergency meeting with officials of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) amid the recent spate of violence reported across the country.
Romualdez, in a statement on Sunday, said that the reports of high-profile crimes are alarming, leading him to seek a meeting with the two agencies to know what their actions and responses are.
The meeting is expected to be held on Monday.
“Nakakabahala na dahil parang halos every week may malaking balita tungkol sa mga napapatay sa kalye (It’s alarming because it seems that almost every week there are news reports about high-profile killings),” Romualdez said.
“Gusto natin malaman sa PNP at DILG kung ano ang mga hakbang na ginagawa nila upang pigilan ang mga ganitong uri ng karumal-dumal na krimen (We want to know from the PNP and the DILG what steps are being taken to stop these kinds of heinous crimes),” he added.
According to Romualdez, several of the high-profile incidents appeared to be linked to politics because most of the recent victims are politicians or are involved with public service.
Romualdez was referring to the slay attempt on the mayor of Datu Montawal town in Maguindanao along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City last February 22. Mayor Ohto Caumbo Montawal sustained gunshot wounds in his hip and left arm after the ordeal.
READ: Maguindanao town mayor hurt in ambush try in Pasay City
Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. ordered the PNP to conduct a thorough probe of the incident.
READ: DILG chief orders probe into gun attack vs Maguindanao town mayor
“The way it looks, mukhang pulitika ang motibo sa mga ambush kamakailan dahil mga politicians ang biktima (Politics appears to be the motive behind the recent ambuscades because many of the victims are politicians),” Romualdez said.
“We will ask the police and the DILG, saan ang problema? Intelligence ba? Paano makakatulong ang Kongreso sa paglutas ng mga krimeng ito (We will ask the police and the DILG what’s the problem? Is it intelligence? How can Congress help in solving these crimes)?” he added.
Aside from the incident involving the Maguindanao town mayor, another ambush in Nueva Vizcaya left the vice mayor of Aparri, Cagayan and five others dead.
READ: Aparri vice mayor, 5 others killed in Nueva Vizcaya ambush
Then last February 17, four were killed when the convoy of Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. was ambushed by still unidentified gunmen in Maguing town. Adiong was left injured in the attack.
READ: Lanao del Sur gov Mamintal Adiong hurt in slay attempt; 4 aides dead
The string of ambushes has led PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. to order a threat assessment on all local police units, to deter other potential attacks.