Bulacan gov seeks end to killings

MALOLOS CITY, Philippines – Gov. Wilhelmino Alvarado yesterday ordered the Bulacan police to put a stop to the spate of killings happening in the province.

The killings started before the May 13 elections and left at least six victims including two village chairmen, businessman and his wife.

“We cannot allow the killings go unpunished,” Alvarado said. 

He said he gave marching orders to Senior Superintendent Joel Orduna, the acting provincial police director, as he noted that the killings appeared to follow a pattern.

The governor said a village chairman from San Miguel town was killed days before the elections, Ernesto Ventura, the village chief of Barangay Santol in Balagtas town, was shot dead early this week.

Both cases involved gunmen on board motorcycles.

Similar pattern is reported in the killing of a businessman and his wife in Malolos City Monday afternoon.

Based on reports, the couple had just withdrew money from a bank when they were ambushed at the Blas Ople Road on their way home to Hagonoy town.

Alvarado said  the police are still investigating the possible connection between the cases. 

He said that the suspects in an earlier attack in Meycauayan City were arrested in Laguna.

“The Bulacan Provincial Police Office are also looking at the modus operandi including the robbery and murder case in Calumpit,” Alvarado said.

When asked if he is planning to relieve local police officers for negligence, the governor said the election ban is still active.

Earlier this week, a teenager from Baliwag town was beat up by suspected drug addicts in Plaridel town.

The victim died four days later due to head injuries.