AS local politics heats up in Misamis Occidental, board member Henry Oaminal appealed to politicians and supporters to remain calm and composed amid the killing of barangay councilor Edwin Segue doubled as volunteer radio reporter.
Saying he is saddened of an ally’s murder, Oaminal call on supporters to let the rule of law prevail.
“Naguol ako sa kamatayon sa akong supporter hinungdan nga nanawagan ako nga magmakalma lang kita aron mabatunan ang malinawon ang piniliay,” Oaminal said.
Oaminal, a vice-gubernatorial candidate under Nacionalista Party (NP) is urging the PNP and other authorities to fast tract the investigation of Segue’s murder and bring the perpetrators of the crime to the bar of justice.
He even asked over the radio the perpetrator to surrender.
“Maayo unta hikapon ang ilang mga kasing-kasing aron mo-surrender aron kahatagan og hustisya ang kamatayon ni Edwin,” he said.
In his part, Vice-governor Francisco Paylaga, Jr., gubernatorial candidate of the NP said he requested the services of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct a separate investigation of the brutal killing.
The NP and its standard-bearer Sen. Manny Villar also condemned the killing.
NP said, "We condemn in the strongest possible terms the killing of Edwin Segue.
While the world still mourns the infamy brought about by the massacre of 31 journalists in Maguindanao last year, our country faces this scandalous and cowardly act anew.
“With this latest ignominy, the Philippines is fast becoming the burial ground for well-meaning journalists, surpassing the notoriety experienced in countries at war where lives of journalists are imperiled.
Villar said killing of Segue is not only an affront to the freedom of the press and free expression enshrined in ther Constitution, but it also mirrors the government’s neglect and failure to address extra-judicial killings in the country.
Segue is the 6th barangay official killed since the political season started.
Last April 13, 2010, 10:30 am, a political coordinator of Representative Herminia Ramiro, a gubernatorial aspirant under the Lakas-Kampi Party was killed by unidentified assailants in Plaridel town.
Nine hours after the said incident, another political supporter was shot to death by a Barangay chairman of Bacolod, Ozamiz City.
The victim identified by the authorities as Gregorio Sadamas, supporter of the Liberal Party.
On April 16, Barangay councilor Luciano Sayson of San Isidro, Calamba was gunned down by unidentified suspects.
Prior to the said incidents three barangay chairmen and one barangay councilor had been slain since October last year, but the provincial police command is calling on the people not to worry of the said killings because they are remote cases whose motives appeared to be personal grudge and had nothing to do with the May 10 elections.
First to be killed by unknown assailants was barangay kagawad Wilfredo Pamale of Bato, Plaridel last October 7, 2009, followed by barangay captain Narciso Jaro of Maligubaan, Concepcion who was gunned down in La Libertad, Zamboanga del Sur last December 5, 2009.
Next was Alberto Ate, barangay chairman of Bagong Silang, Lopez Jaena who was shot dead also by unidentified suspects when he went to Calamba town together with his son, who was wounded in attack, last May 3.
The killing of barangay officials had prompted the Sangguning Panglalawigan to pass a resolution urging the PNP, AFP and other law enforcement agencies of the government to expedite their investigation and to establish wether these incidents were politically motivated.
The provincial board had just passed the resolution when another Barangay chairman , Joel Lambaco of Macalibre Bajo, Lopez Jaena gunned down by unknown suspects last March 8.
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