Vice President Sara Duterte condemned the attempted killing of Dr. Sharmaine Ceballos Barroquillo, a government doctor in Maguindanao, and lamented the occurence of similar violent incidents in the country.

Dr. Sharmaine Ceballos Barroquillo (Photo courtesy of Metropolitan Davao Medical Society Inc.)

In a statement, the official deplored the violent incident and questioned the state of peace and order in the country.

“Ang nangyari sa kanya sa Buluan, Maguindanao ay isa lamang sa mga insidente ng karahasan sa buong bansa na sumasalamin sa estado ng seguridad at kaayusan ng bansa (What happened to her in Buluan, Maguindanao is just one of the violent incidences in the country that mirrors the state of security and order in the country),” she said on Tuesday, Feb. 13.

“Tandaan natin na sa peace and order nakasandal ang ating kalayaan at ang kaunlaran ng ating bansa (Let us remember that the freedom and progress of our country lies on peace and order),” she added.

Barroquillo, a physician at the Sultan Kudarat Provincial Hospital, was driving her car in Buluan, Maguindanao del Sur on the evening of Feb. 3 when assailants riding on a motorcycle shot her three times.

While she survived the ambush, she sustained injuries to her left shoulder and lower back.

Duterte, in her statement, asked key government agencies to bring justice to Barroquillo.

“Walang sinuman sa atin, lalo na ang mga responsableng mamamayan at kawani ng pamahalaan na katulad ni Dr. Barroquillo na tunay na naglilingkod sa mga Pilipino, ang dapat na dumanas ng karahasan sa kamay ng mga kriminal (No one, especially our responsible countrymen and workers of the government like Dr. Barroquillo who is a true public servant, should experience violence in the hands of criminals),” she said.

“Sana ay hindi tayo tumigil hanggang mabigyan ng hustisya ang sinapit ni Dr. Barroquillo at managot ang mga gumawa nito sa kanya (May we never stop until we give justice to what Dr. Barroquillo went through and make those responsible for what happened pay),” the Vice President added.

She called on government agencies to ensure the safety of the people against criminals, terrorists, and other forces who want to scare Filipinos and cause disorder.

“Magtulungan po tayo at huwag nating hayaang maghari ang mga kriminal sa ating mga komunidad (Let us help each other and let’s not allow criminals to reign in our communities),” Duterte said.