Vice President Sara Duterte and slain Digos City village chief Oscar Bucol Jr. (OVP/Facebook)
Vice President Sara Duterte condemned the killing of Oscar Bucol Jr., the barangay captain of Tres De Mayo, Digos City, as she called for respect to the right to criticize and air out grievances.
In a statement on Thursday, Nov. 27, the Vice President expressed her “anger” and “grief” over Bucol’s killing.
“Ginampanan lamang ni Kap Dodong ang kanyang karapatang magsalita sa korapsyon at pulitika ng malaya at ito ay pinatahimik gamit ang baril at bala (Kap Dodong merely exercised his right to speak against corruption and politics freely but he was silenced with guns and bullets),” she said.
The official extended her deepest sympathies to the family, colleagues, and community affected by the tragedy.
“Sa pag-alala sa kanya, muli naming pinagtitibay ang aming paninindigan na protektahan ang mga karapatan at kalayaang nagbibigay-daan sa lahat na magsalita, magtanong, at makibahagi nang walang pangamba (In remembering him, we strengthen our resolve to protect the rights and freedom that provide for us all to speak out, question, and participate without fear),” Duterte said.
“Hindi tayo yuyuko kailanman (We will not cower no matter what),” she furthered.
Bucol was shot dead while he was going live on Facebook on Tuesday evening inside his residence in Barangay Tres de Mayo, Digos City, Davao del Sur.
Portions of the incident were even captured in his ongoing Facebook Live broadcast, reports said.