MANILA, Philippines — The murders of 13 of 18 mayors and vice mayors since President Duterte assumed office have been resolved, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“We made several arrests and filed criminal charges against the suspects in 11 cases and filed charges against the suspects in two other cases,” PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde told a press briefing yesterday.
Albayalde said the murders of Mayor Arsenio Agustin of Marcos, Ilocos Norte on June 3, 2017; Vice Mayor Alexander Lubigan of Trece Martires, Cavite last July 7, and Vice Mayor Al-Rashid Mohammad Ali of Sapa-Sapa, Tawi-Tawi on July 11 were politically motivated.
Albayalde said Mayors Samsudin Dimaukon of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao; Rolando Espinosa of Albuera, Leyte, and Reynaldo Parojinog of Ozamiz, Misamis Occidental were killed during police operations because of their involvement in illegal activities.
The killings of Vice Mayor Anwar Sindatuk of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao on Nov. 27 and Mayor Mohammad Limbona of Pantar, Lanao del Norte on Dec. 30, both in 2016, were due to rido or clan war, the PNP chief said.
Mayor Joven Hidalgo of Balete, Batangas and Vice Mayor Jackson Dy of Roxas, Oriental Mindoro were killed due to vengeance and personal grudge, respectively.
Business rivalry was the motive for the killing of Mayor Ferdinand Bote of General Tinio, Nueva Ecija.
Police said the killings of Gisel Benson-Boniel of Bien Unido, Bohol on June 7, 2017, wherein her husband was tagged as the prime suspect, and Ronald Tirol of Buenavista, Bohol on May 27, 2018 were also solved.
Albayalde said only five cases are under investigation.
These are the murders of Mayors Alexander Buquing of Sudipen, La Union; Antonio Halili of Tanauan, Batangas and Mariano Blanco III of Rondo, Cebu as well as Vice Mayors Jonah John Ungab of Ronda, Cebu and Aaron Sampaga of Pamplona, Cagayan.