Mayors’ league offers help to hunt Agusan mayor’s killers

MANILA, Philippines - The League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) has offered to help the police and military in hunting down the killers of Mayor Dario Otaza of Loreto, Agusan del Sur and his son, Daryl.

LMP national president Leonardo Javier said the league would convene its national directorate tomorrow to adopt a resolution calling on all municipal mayors to help authorities in intelligence gathering, among other measures, to assist in the investigation.

“Such senseless killing has no place in our society of laws. Mayor Otaza, a rebel returnee, not only condemned violence to achieve social justice, but also embraced democracy… so our people can enjoy the fruits of development,” Javier said at a media briefing at the LMP headquarters in Quezon City.

“I assure our constituents that no violence will deter our municipal mayors from doing what is right for our people... I encourage our colleagues not to be cowed by threats, but to continue serving their constituents especially in the delivery of basic services and in the maintenance of peace and order,” he added.

Authorities believe NPA rebels in Agusan del Sur and Surigao were behind the killings.

Javier said the LMP is appealing to the justice department to speed up the resolution of pending cases involving local officials.

He also called on lumad tribesmen not to avenge the killings.

The government peace panel negotiating with communist rebels condemned the killings and called on authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.

“We have always called for a meaningful process with the CPP-NPA-NDF that will bring the people closer to peace,” chief government negotiator Alex Padilla said.

Padilla said the government is pursuing the peace process, but lamented violent incidents on the ground. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Mayen Jaymalin, Jose Rodel Clapano