Arroyo condemns Mindoro killings

President Arroyo condemned yesterday the killing of a Lakas-CMD mayoral candidate and a human rights activist in Naujan, Mindoro Oriental last Friday, hours after her K-4 ticket’s campaign sortie in the province.

Presidential Spokesman Igna-cio Bunye said the President has directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct an "in-depth investigation immediately" into the murder of Naujan Vice Mayor Juvy Magsino and Bayan Muna officer Leima Fortu.

Magsino and Fortu had come from a meeting of local Lakas-CMD (Christian-Muslim Democrats) leaders when two motorcycle-riding men fired at the vice mayor’s Toyota Revo.

Magsino was among the local officials who welcomed Mrs. Arroyo and the other national candidates of the administration party earlier that day.

"The PNP has procedures for candidates who receive death threats and on how to provide security for them. I hope they can immediately study and act on such requests for protection," Bunye said.

The New People’s Army (NPA) has blamed the military for the deaths of Magsino and Fortu, and vowed to punish their killers.

Gregorio Rosal, spokesman of the Communist Party of the Philippines, said the NPA would intensify its offensives against the Army’s 204th Infantry Brigade based in Mindoro Oriental. — With Artemio Dumlao