I wonder how Local Government Unit officials are feeling now with the killing of two mayors in broad daylight within two days of this week.
Mayor Antonio Halili of Tanauan City, Batangas was shot dead on July 2, 2018 during the weekly flag raising ceremony at the city hall grounds. He became notorious for his “walk of shame” initiative where drug suspects were paraded in public in 2016. This act was condemned by human rights groups. However, Mayor Halili himself was linked by the Duterte administration to illegal drugs. This resulted in the removal of his power to supervise the local police. Mayor Halili also refused calls for him to surrender—until that fateful morning.
The country was still reeling from this when Mayor Ferdinand Bote of General Tinio, Nueva Ecija was also shot dead the following day, July 3. His vehicle was shot at by motorcycle-riding gunmen as he was leaving the National Irrigation Administration in Cabanatuan City.
These killings have made people restive. Many are nervous and asking how safe ordinary Filipinos really are if mayors, who are the most powerful in their towns and cities are killed as easily as Halili and Bote. This is a very valid question especially since the killings are unabated. Tens of thousands have been killed since President Rodrigo Duterte started his war on drugs.
First, the targets were suspected drug pushers and users, young and old alike, and mostly poor.
Recently however, lawyers, priests, and LGU officials have been added to the list of those who are killed. Most of the killings involve operatives of the Philippine National Police. This does not add to the confidence level of ordinary Filipinos.
What perhaps escapes most is the fact that from 2016 when Duterte assumed office to date, 10 mayors including Halili and Bote, and four vice mayors have already been killed. A list put together by Rappler.com shows this.
The other mayors were:
Mayor Samsudin Dimaukom of Datu Saudi Ampatuan who was killed allegedly in a shootout with state operatives on Oct. 28, 2016. He was on Duterte’s drug list. He was flagged down at a checkpoint on the basis of information that they were delivering illegal drugs to Maguindanao and Cotabato areas;
Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. of Albuera, Leyte. He was arrested for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and for illegally possessing firearms and ammunition. The PNP said that their raid of Espinosa’s house yielded 11 kilos of suspected shabu worth P88 million, and high powered weapons. He was killed in an alleged shootout inside his prison cell in Baybay City on Nov. 5, 2016;
Mayor Mohammad Exchan Limbona of Pantar, Lanao del Norte was killed when an unidentified group of men opened fire on his vehicle in Barangay Dalipuga, Iligan City on Dec. 29, 2016. With him were his wife, daughter, and two escorts. Local police claimed that possible motives were politics or family feud.
Mayor Arsenio Agustin of Marcos, Ilocos Norte was shot by unidentified men in his town on June 3, 2017 while inspecting a water impounding project. His driver, Mark Valencia also died in the shooting incident;
Mayor Gisela Bendong-Boniel of Bien Unido, Bohol was believed to have been abducted and killed on June 7, 2017 by her husband and Bohol Board Member Nino Rey Boniel. The suspected motive was marital issues. Her remains have yet to be found;
Mayor Leovino Hidalgo of Balete, Batangas who was gunned down by unidentified killers during a local sports event on June 10, 2017;
Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog of Ozamis City, Misamis Occidental was with his wife, brother, and sister when they were killed during a police raid on July 30, 2017. State agents were allegedly serving a warrant of arrest when the mayor’s security personnel attacked. The Parojinogs were on Duterte’s list of government officials allegedly involved in illegal drugs trade; and Mayor Ronald Lowell Tirol of Buenavista, Bohol. He was gunned down by an unidentified assailant while inside the town’s cockpit arena on May 27, 2018.
The vice mayors who were killed were:
Vice Mayor Aaron Sampaga of Pamplona, Cagayan Province. He was killed by unidentified gun men on August 5, 2016. He was mayor for three terms before becoming vice mayor;
Vice Mayor Anwar Sindatuk of Datu Saudi Ampatuan who was shot at close range by an unidentified gunman while he was entertaining guests in his house on Nov. 26, 2016;
Vice Mayor Jackson Cinco Dy of Roxas, Oriental Mindoro was gunned down by unidentified assailants on Sept. 22, 2017. The killers fled using a motorcycle; and
Vice Mayor Jonah John Ungab of Ronda, Cebu who was killed when unidentified men opened fire at his vehicle on Feb. 19, 2018 in Cebu City. He was the lawyer of suspected drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, son of slain Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr.
Of the 14 cases, 13 of the victims were decidedly killed using guns while one remains a mystery since her body is yet to be found.
At least six of the killings could possibly be drug-related. These are the murders of mayors Samsudin Dimaukom, Rolando Espinosa, Jr., Reynaldo Parojinog, Antonio Halili, and vice mayor Jonah John Ungab. Three of these six cases involved alleged shootout with state operatives.
The killings of local government officials could possibly have a chilling effect particularly on our mayors and vice mayors. Mayor Halili’s murder happened during the flag raising ceremony, Mayor Bote’s right after his visit to the NIA office, Mayor Agustin’s happened as he was inspecting a water impounding project, and Mayor Hidalgo’s murder occurred during a local sports event.
They were merely performing their usual functions as local officials when they got killed. How are people to expect maximum performance from LGU officials in the midst of all these killings? How many of them would think twice now about attending the weekly flag ceremony, coordinating with other government offices, and attending local events?
What guarantees are given by the national government about the safety and security of LGU officials when a number of the killings involved police operatives? President Duterte’s statements on killings are not encouraging since there has been no assurance from him ALL local officials, not just his friends, have nothing to worry about.
The killings can paralyze local government officials.
On the contrary, he has always assured the police that they are protected even if they kill. This kind of protection has indeed been given the police as manifested by the fact that most of those involved are merely transferred to other assignments. We have yet to hear of police operatives being meted prison terms for their crimes.
In the end, if local officials are unable to perform well, it is the people who will lose. The killings must stop. These can paralyze local government officials.
@bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook