ALARMED
SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez yesterday called the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss the spate of high-profile crimes in the country.
“Nakakabahala na dahil parang halos every week may malaking balita tungkol sa mga napapatay sa kalye (It’s alarming because it seems that almost every week there is news about high-profile killings),” Speaker Romualdez said.
“Gusto natin malaman sa PNP at DILG kung ano ang mga hakbang na ginagawa nila upang pigilan ang mga ganitong uri ng karumal-dumal na krimen (We want to know from the PNP and the DILG what steps are being taken to stop these kinds of heinous crimes),” he said.
“The way it looks, mukhang pulitika ang motibo sa mga ambush kamakailan dahil mga politicians ang biktima (Politics appears to be the motive behind the recent ambuscades because many of the victims are politicians),” the House leader pointed out.
“We will ask the police and the DILG, saan ang problema? Intelligence ba? Paano makakatulong ang Kongreso sa paglutas ng mga krimeng ito? (We will ask the police and the DILG what’s the problem? Is it intelligence? How can Congress help in solving these crimes?),” added Romualdez.
Recently, a mayor of Maguindanao was severely wounded in an ambush in Pasay City.
Last February, a business couple and their companions in the car were fired upon in Pasay City.
Also this February, the vice mayor of Aparri, Cagayan was shot and killed in an ambush.
It was fortunate that Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong survived the ambush in Maguindanao earlier this February, even as four of his police escorts were killed.
