House of Representatives (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Top officials of the House of Representatives are bent on delivering justice to the families of the victims of Pampanga's unsolved series of killings.

Senior Deputy Speaker Pampanga 3rd district Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. and Santa Rosa City lone district Rep. Dan Fernandez displayed their resolve for this as the House Committee on Public Order launch its probe in aid of legislation on the series of assassinations in the province.

Chaired by Fernandez, the public order panel is looking into a disturbing subject that has been raised in an earlier privilege speech in plenary by Gonzales. The latter said that at least six local officials in his district have been killed in a span of two years and seven months.

Gonzales subsequently filed House Resolution (HR) No. 2086 to call for the investigation.

Regional, provincial and local police forces have failed to solve the killings. They told the committee that the suspects remain at large.

Addressing his colleagues and his constituents at the start of the inquiry, Gonzales said he wanted to make “an urgent call to action to our law enforcement agencies", and to help the victims’ families seek justice.

“Katulad po ng sinabi ko sa aking privilege speech, gagawin ko po ang lahat, sa abot ng aking makakaya, na makuha ang katarungan sa pagpaslang sa inyong mga mahal sa buhay. Hindi po tayo titigil hanggat hindi napapanagot sa batas ang mga may sala,” he said.

(Like what I said in my privilege speech, I will do everything in my power to achieve justice for the killings of your loved ones. We won't stop until the perpetrators are made accountable.)

For his part, Fernandez condemned the killings and told the victims’ families he was one with them in pursuing justice.

“This serious matter not only calls for the resolution of these cases and the swift delivery of justice for the victims and their bereaved families,” he said. 

“More importantly, this calls for legal reforms and institutional strengthening, and even a shift in our cultural mindset as filipinos. Whether these killings are election related or not, political violence is a threat to our democracy and we all have the duty to seek lasting solutions. It is the least we can do for our fallen public servants,” Fernandez said.

Like his colleagues, Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., chairman of the Committee on Human Rights, expressed solidarity with the victims’ families in their quest for justice.

He castigated local police forces for failing to solve the assassinations for more than two years. 

Gonzales said the earliest of the series of killings took place on April 30, 2022, while the latest happened just last Nov. 12.

He identified the victims as Barangay Captains Alvin Mendoza of Alasas, Jesus Liang of Sto. Rosario, and Matt Ryan dela Cruz of Del Pilar Cutud and his driver Henry Aquino, all of the capital San Fernando City; and Barangay Captain Norberto Lumbao of Laguios, Arayat, and Arayat Councilor Federico Hipolito.