Councilors’ league denounces killings of members

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Councilors League (PCL) has denounced the killing of councilor Isagani Ambaoa Joson of Lagayan town in Abra, who was shot dead in his house in Sitio Manaois, Poblacion on Aug. 8.

“The deaths of Hon. Joson and other PCL members killed in the previous months are greatly felt by the organization. Councilors are only doing their jobs as legislators and should not be killed,” PCL national chair and Davao City Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang said in a statement sent to The STAR.

Joson is the fifth PCL member killed this year.

Alfredo Alvarez and Zaldy Mallari, both in Cagayan, were gunned down in July and May, respectively.

Ronilo Mamaclay of Sarangani was killed in June and Alexander Alicaway of Cebu was slain in an ambush last March.

At least 10 mayors and four vice mayors in the country were killed since July 2016 under the term of President Duterte. The last two cases were the murder of Tanuan, Batangas mayor Antonio Halili and General Tinio, Nueva Ecija mayor Ferdinand Bote, which took place on consecutive days July 2 and 3.

Aside from Bote and Halili, the other mayors killed since July 2016 include Ronald Lowell Tirol of Buenavista, Bohol, shot inside the town’s of Tanuan, Batangas mayor Antonio Halili and General Tinio, Nueva Ecija mayor Ferdinand Bote, which took place on consecutive days July 2 and 3.

Aside from Bote and Halili, the other mayors killed since July 2016 include Ronald Lowell Tirol of Buenavista, Bohol, shot inside the town’s cockpit arena on May 27, 2018 and Ozamiz City’s Reynaldo Parojinog and 14 others, including Parojinog’s wife Susan, brother Octavio Jr., and sister Mona, all killed in a police raid on July 30, 2017; Leovino Hidalgo of Balete, Batangas shot on June 10, 2017; Gisela Bendon-Boniel of Bien Unido, Bohol on June 7, 2016, reportedly a victim of parricide; Arsenio Agustin of Marcos town in Ilocos Norte on June 3, 2017.

Pantar, Lanao del Norte mayor Mohammad Exchan Limbona was ambushed in Iligan City on Dec. 29, 2016; Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. was killed in a reported shootout inside his jail cell in Baybay City on Nov. 5, 2016 and Datu Saudi Ampatuan mayor Samsudin Dimaukom was killed in a shootout with policemen on Oct. 28, 2016 in Makilala, North Cotabato.

On the other, vice mayors killed include Jonah John Ungab of Ronda, Cebu on Feb. 19, 2018; Jackson Cinco Dy of Roxas town, Oriental Mindoro, gunned down on Sept. 22, 2017; Anwar Sindatuk of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, in Maguindanao on Nov. 26, 2016, and Pamplona’s Aaron Sampaga on Aug. 5, 2016 in Cagayan province.

Most of the incidents were perpetrated by unidentified gunmen.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año assured the public that the PNP’s special investigation task groups are now working double time to resolve all attacks against mayors and other local government officials.