Over and over again, we have seen how people in this country readily commit murder over political rivalries. No position, it seems, it too low in the government hierarchy for contenders to kill rivals. This has raised questions on what’s at stake in such positions. What’s the return on an investment soaked in blood?
In November 2009, the Ampatuan clan massacred 58 people over the post of provincial governor. The victims were on their way to Sultan Kudarat to file the certificate of candidacy of Esmael Mangudadatu, who dared challenge Andal Ampatuan Jr. for the post of Maguindanao governor. At the time, Ampatuan was mayor of Datu Unsay town and his father Andal Senior was the provincial governor.
This week the Commission on Elections expressed concern over the killing of two barangay captains, with the elections for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials still several months away.
Last Tuesday in Asturias town, Cebu, Barangay Manguiao chairman Mario Delfin Tundag and his wife Edna were on their way home on their motorcycle when two men, also on a motorcycle, shot them dead in Barangay Poblacion. Police said Tunday had been arrested in 2016 on gun charges following a raid on his house.
Also on Tuesday in Shariff Aguak town, Hadji Basit Zangkala of Barangay Labo-Labo in Datu Hoffer, Maguindanao del Sur was waiting in his car for his wife, who was buying something in a fruit stand, when a man walked up to the car and shot him several times with a handgun. Zangkala was declared dead on arrival in a nearby hospital. His murder came on the heels of the strafing of the house of Guiabar Dalinding, chairman of Barangay Simuay in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte on Monday night by men on a motorcycle. Fortunately, no one was wounded or killed in the attack.
Since certificates of candidacy have not yet been filed for the barangay and SK elections, the Comelec does not yet consider the recent attacks cases of election violence. But political rivalries are being eyed in the killings. The Comelec has also recorded recent murders targeting barangay officials in Batangas, Lanao del Sur and the Negros provinces.
This violence is made possible by the belief that the perpetrators can get away with their crime. As the elections approach, authorities should send a strong, credible message that this is not the case.