The Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines (VMLP)-Cagayan chapter strongly condemned the ambush of Aparri, Cagayan Vice Mayor Rommel Alameda and four others in Nueva Vizcaya on Sunday, Feb. 19.
“We are shocked and saddened that one of our officers has been added to the number of fallen victims to senseless killings. Vice Mayor Alameda was a kind person who has passion and commitment to serve his constituents. He will surely be missed not only by his family but also his constituents and colleagues,” the VMLP-Cagayan chapter said.
It called on law enforcement units to exert efforts to bring the perpetrators of this dastardly act to justice and exert all efforts to put a stop to this kind of killing.
The group expressed condolences and asked prayers for the victims. “We pray for the families in this difficult time and we mourn with the whole municipality of Aparri and the province of Cagayan.”
The VMLP-Cagayan said Alameda and his staff were on their way to Manila to attend the 27th VMLP National Convention in Pasay City when they waylaid in Sitio Kinacao, Barangay Baretbet, Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya.
Alameda was a member of the Board of Directors of VMLP-Cagayan.
Meanwhile, a burned vehicle possibly used in the ambush was found on ARC Road, Purok 3, Barangay Uddiawan, Solano, Nueva Vizcaya, before dawn on Monday, Feb. 20.
The vehicle was a white Mitsubishi Adventure without license.
The Police Regional Office (PRO) 2 is investigating if this was the indeed the gunmen’s vehicle.
Alameda was the second local government official who figured in an ambush in three days following Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr.