Three recent attacks on local government officials within the space of one week last month in disparate locations in the country cannot be blithely dismissed by authorities as “isolated incidents” that should not cause undue worry on the part of the citizenry.
But precisely because the targets were local officials already with the means to protect themselves since they have security personnel assigned to them is quite worrisome as it indicates powerful and/or influential people, whether politicians or criminal syndicates, may be the masterminds of these attacks.
These armed attacks tend to undermine the trust and confidence of the people at large in the capability of government to protect them from harm.
If authorities cannot protect those in public office already supposed to be protected by the state, can they protect ordinary citizens who go about their daily lives exposed to danger from those with murder and mayhem on their minds?
It is incumbent on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to pursue every lead in solving the attacks on three local officials.
Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. was wounded while his four companions were killed in an ambush of their convoy in Maguing town on February 17.
The PNP has reported that a criminal case may already be lodged by this week against the suspects behind the attempt on the life of the provincial governor.
Aparri, Cagayan Vice Mayor Rommel Alameda,c and his five security escorts were killed in an ambush in Nueva Vizcaya on February 19. The PNP has said they have been making good progress in investigating the fatal ambush, having already identified persons of interest who could shed light on the brazen attack.
The third attack took place three days later, on February 22, when Mayor Ohto Montawal of Datu Montawal, Maguindanao was shot and wounded inside his vehicle along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City by still unidentified gunmen.
The police have yet to make a breakthrough in this particular case.
“I would say that these are isolated cases, but still, these are killings that need to be solved and to be pursued by our law enforcement agencies in investigating the cause or the motive behind the attacks,” PNP chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said.
In the wake of these armed attacks on local officials, the PNP has urged them to request for additional security assistance when traveling outside their coverage areas. Earlier, Police General Azurin ordered the regional offices of the PNP to conduct a threat assessment on the local government officials within the scope of their responsibility.
Earlier, the PNP halted the issuance of permits to carry firearms in 4 provinces —Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Nueva Vizcaya, as well as parts of North Cotabato—after the attacks on local executives.
But will this be enough to halt the spiral of violence against them?