Samar 1st District Representative Edgar Mary Sarmiento has called for a House investigation on the death of Calbayog City Mayor Ronaldo Aquino in an alleged encounter with policemen last Monday.
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In asking the House committee on public order to conduct the legislative inquiry, Sarmiento, a friend of Aquino, called the incident a "senseless murder…commited by members of Philippine National Police (PNP)".
The congressman earlier said that the mayor was ambushed last Monday, March 8. He rejected PNP's bid to investigate the incident, saying that an objective probe can be guaranteed only by the Natiional Bureau of Investigation.
The PNP, on the other hand, maintained that it was an encounter and that it was the mayor's group that opened fire at the policemen's vehicles, thinking they were being tailed. The police said they were headed to an operation.
Aquino, his driver, and police escort died in the incident.
"There are doubts on whether the incident was a legitimate police investigation since the members of the uniformed service were not in their official uniform when it happened. Moreover, if it indeed a special operation, there are also doubts on the reason or justification behind it," Sarmiento said in the House Resolution No. 1633 he filed on Tuesday, March 9.
Sarmiento also insisted his belief that Aquino's death may have been politically-motivated, recalling that Samar 1st district leaders were previously accused of involvement in the illegal drug trade -- a claim they denied.
He added that two barangay (village) chairmen in their district were recently killed by unidentified gunmen.
"It is not acceptable for killings to occur in a civilized society. It is even more impossible when members of our uniformed service are being accused of involvement in these heinous acts," Sarmiento said.
Last Tuesday, the Samar representative appealed on President Duterte to help bring justice for Aquino, saying he "cannot get justice from the PNP." Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the incident.