‘Iron fist’ now needed to address killings in PH, says Zubiri

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri answers reporters’ queries in the Senate on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. INQUIRER.net photo / Daniza Fernandez

MANILA, Philippines — For Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, an “iron fist” is now needed in the country as he considers the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, an “act of terror.”

On Monday, senators unanimously adopted a resolution strongly condemning the recent spate of killings and attacks on government officials and private individuals in the country.

“Kamay na bakal na po ang kailangan natin, Mr. President,” Zubiri said in his sponsorship speech for  the resolution.

(We need an iron fist now, Mr. President.)

“Parang hindi na natatakot itong mga killers na ito, hired man o politically motivated, kailangan silang matuto na unang-una pag may ginawa silang krimen, let the full force of the law be put  upon them, without fear or favor…” he said.

(Looks like these killers are no longer afraid—hired or politically motivated— they should know that when they commit a crime, let the full force of the law be put upon them without fear or favor.)

READ: Senators condemn killings, attacks vs gov’t execs

The Senate leader then enumerated what he called  “senseless murders” of incumbent and former government officials in the last few months alone, including Degamo; Aparri, Cagayan Vice Mayor Rommel Alameda; former Lamitan City, Basilan Mayor Rose Furigay; former Lobo, Batangas Vice Mayor Romeo Sulit; and former Samar Mayor Miguel Abaigar.

“Worse yet are the deaths of innocent civilians, who have nothing at all to do with whatever motivations are behind these assassinations,” he said. “To target government officials is dastardly, but to involve hapless civilians is downright evil. We can even consider this ambush to be an act of terrorism.”

Zubiri noted that under Section 4A of Republic Act 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, a terrorist act is committed by anyone who “engages in acts intended to cause death or serious bodily injury to any person, or endangers a person’s life.”

“And clearly, lives were lost, and other victims suffered serious injuries during this ambush. And the crime committed is intended to ‘intimidate the general public’ and ‘create an atmosphere of fear or spread a message of fear, which qualifies the crime as an act of terrorism under our law,” he said.

“Kaya dapat lahat ng perpetrators na ito, ang killers should be treated as terrorists, including (their) masterminds, whoever the masterminds  may be, should be considered as terrorists and of course enemy of the state,” the senator also said.

(That’s why all these perpetrators, these killers, should be treated as terrorists, including (their) masterminds, whoever the masterminds may be, should be considered as terrorists and, of course, enemies of the state)

Degamo was shot dead inside his house in Barangay Isidro, Pamplona town, last Saturday, March 5, while distributing assistance to Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries. Eight others were also reported killed.

Zubiri, later in his speech, appealed to the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement agencies to step up their efforts against these killings by arresting Degamo’s killers and preventing similar crimes from happening in the future.

“Nauubos na po ang tiwala ng taumbayan na kaya silang protektahan ng gobyerno,” he said.

The Senate leader then called on the PNP “to live up to their mandate, to serve and to protect the Filipino people.”

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KGA/abc