Detained Senator Leila de Lima called on the Senate to conduct a
deeper investigation into the continuing attacks and killings involving local chief executives.
In filing Senate Resolution No. 683, De Lima said it is imperative to
identify the gaps in law enforcement to put an end to a prevailing
culture of impunity.
De Lima said the killing of Calbayog City Mayor Ronald Aquino, the
latest local official to fall victim to extrajudicial killings
committed against local chief executives, underscores the need to
attain justice for all victims.
The bloody incident in Calbayog City, she said, is not the first of
its kind, pointing out that Aquino’s death has brought to 25 the tally
of mayors and vice mayors killed since 2016.
“The events of the past few years have shown that the police under
this administration have all but eliminated peaceful surrender of
anyone that they unilaterally and unlawfully determined to be their
enemies,” the senator pointed out.
“Until when will our people remain silent against these abuses?” she
further lamented.
Aquino and his two drivers were killed last March 8 and initially
reported as an ambush. The Philippine National Police (PNP) later
claimed that it was a shootout between the mayor’s team and the
police.
However, Samar 1stDistrict Representative Edgar Mary Sarmiento refuted
the PNP’s claims that the mayor’s escorts were the first to fire at
the officers reportedly tailing their vehicle.
According to Sarmiento, the police were already waiting for Aquino’s
vehicle at Laboyao Bridge in Barangay Lonoy before the shooting
incident.
The House lawmaker also questioned the PNP’s claims operatives were
merely conducting inspections on the operational readiness of PNP
units in the area considering that the operatives were already armed
with high-powered firearms during the incident.
Likewise, De Lima pointed out there were no witnesses who claimed that
the incident began with the assailants opening fire on Aquino’s
vehicle.
“The series of extrajudicial killings waged against local chief
executives and the subsequent failure of the government to take
meaningful action to give justice to the victims are part of a pattern
of and systematic violations of human rights in the country, including
state agents,” De Lima said in her resolution.
“It is imperative for the Senate to conduct a thorough, independent
and impartial inquiry to determine, once and for all, the concrete
efforts the government has undertaken and is undertaking to stop the
killings and seek answers to the reported illegal activities of
alleged rogue police personnel,” she further stated.