Makabayan solon denounces attacks on public officials

MANILA, Philippines — House Deputy Minority leader and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro condemned on Saturday the assassination of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, pointing out that the recent string of attacks was similar to the events prior to the declaration of Martial Law in 1972.

“Nakakabahala na ang mga pag-atakeng ito sa mga opisyal at di na ito masasabing ‘isolated incidents’ tulad ng sinasabi ng mga pulis. Kung nagawa nila ito sa mga opisyal, paano pa kaya ang ordinaryong mamamayan?” said Castro.

(These attacks on officers are alarming and can no longer be called ‘isolated incidents’ as the police say. If they can do it to the officials, what more to ordinary citizens?)

Aside from the killing of Degamo, a shooting incident involving Mayor Ohto Caumbo Montawal of Datu Montawal, Maguindanao del Sur, occurred in Pasay City on February 24, and another ambush attempt against Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. happened on February 17.

Citing these incidents, Castro could not help but compare the current situation to the days before late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. declared Martial law, mentioning that former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile’s ambush was staged.

“All these must be taken into consideration as there is again a concerted effort to change the Constitution, and these attacks may again be used to justify such a move to make a more totalitarian charter like that of the 1973 Constitution,” Castro furthered.

“We must be very vigilant and see the patterns that are emerging; these attacks may be a scheme to again justify a more draconian government and Constitution, with those in power remaining indefinitely at the top,” she added.

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