MANILA – Malacañang attributed to what it called the “political season” the recent killings of local government officials.
Two mayors and one vice mayor were slain by still unidentified suspects in the recent week.
“The more plausible explanation behind this is, it’s really political season in the Philippines,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said on Monday.
Mayor Antonio Halili of Tanauan City, Batangas was gunned down while attending a flag-raising ceremony at their city hall on July 2.
The following day Mayor Ferdinand Bote of General Tinio, Nueva Ecija was shot to death in Cabanatuan City.
By Saturday Vice Mayor Alex Lubigan of Trece Martires City, Cavite perished in an ambush.
Roque claimed that there was “no system” behind the killings.
“Wala namang sistema na lumalabas sa mga patayang ito,” he said. “Ang isa nasa narco-list, ang isa wala sa narco lost, itong pangatlo hindi ko alam kung nandoon siya at all, pero parang wala naman.”
“Iba-iba ang teorya, motibong posible. Pero ang common lang diyan, lahat sila ay politiko,” he added.
Halili was known for parading crime suspects on streets but was himself being linked to the illegal drug trade.
Roque reiterated his call for authorities to conduct a thorough investigation.
“Inaamin po natin na obligasyon ng Estado na imbestigahan ng nabuti ang mga kaso na ito, litisin ang mga pumapatay, at parusahan ng matigil na ang patayang ito,” he said.
He also supported the Commission on Election’s plan to impose a firearms ban ahead of the 2019 mid-term elections.
“Normally there is only a gun ban during election season. Comelec is studying the possibility of imposing the ban earlier than usual dahil mukhang maraming patayan nangyayari preparatory to the elections,” said Roque./PN
