Ex-DOJ chief outraged by murder of supporter in Quezon

Former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has expressed outrage over the killing of one of his family’s political supporters, a reelected village councilor in Mulanay, Quezon.

Marlon Moldon, a Barangay Ajos councilor whom Aguirre said was a staunch supporter of his family, was assassinated in Barangay Sta. Rosa on Thursday, May 17.

In a statement on Friday, Aguirre branded Moldon’s assassination as a “cowardly act of the desperate and of the power hungry.”

“Murder and violence are the hallmarks of men who cannot fully live under the rule of law. They have no place in the politics of Quezon Province. They have no place in politics anywhere,” Aguirre said.

The former justice secretary noted that the killing of Moldon was the second attack on his family’s supporters.

“The series of fatal attacks on our friends and supporters show a pattern of cowardice and evil motives on the part of some people who are trying to sow fear among the good people of the 3rd District of Quezon Province,” he stressed.

The first attack, Aguirre said, was the killing of Barangay Cambuga captain Domingo Ruedas by six unidentified gunmen.

Ruedas was the closest political ally of the Aguirre family in Mulanay politics, the former justice chief noted.

“Chairman Ruedas was fatally attacked two days after I resigned my position as justice secretary. We have received reports that the killers of Chairman Ruedas continue to harass the family of the victim by breaking into their house a few days after the killing,” Aguirre bared.

“The killers threatened the family that they would also be killed if the son of Chairman Ruedas  would not withdraw his candidacy to the position formerly occupied by his father,” he also said.

In light of these killings, Aguirre said: “The good people of the 3rd district of Quezon will fight evil, we will not be coerced. We refuse to be threatened.”     /muf