Albayalde orders massive crackdown vs gun-for-hire syndicates

“We have also considered the suggestions of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) on the need for a massive crackdown against gun-for-hire groups and gun-running syndicates that maybe directly attributed to the recent cases of shooting incidents,” Albayalde said in a media briefing in Camp Crame. (Photo: Philippine National Police/Facebook)

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde on Monday, July 9, ordered a “massive crackdown” of gun-for-hire groups and syndicates.

This development came following the recent killings of three local officials last week.

“We have also considered the suggestions of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) on the need for a massive crackdown against gun-for-hire groups and gun-running syndicates that maybe directly attributed to the recent cases of shooting incidents,” Albayalde said in a media briefing in Camp Crame.

On Monday morning, July 2, Tanauan City Mayor Antonio Halili, who was known for his “walk of shame” campaign, was assasinated during the city hall’s flag ceremony.

A day after Halili’s death, Mayor Ferdinand Bote of General Tinio, Nueva Ecija was ambushed while he was on board his car, a Toyota Fortuner, along Barangay Imelda in his city.

Trece Martires Vice Mayor Alexander Lubigan, the third official to be killed in a span of a week, also died in an ambush on Saturday, July 7, after gunmen showered his vehicle with bullets.

In his press conference, the top cop also directed police units to launch “early security measures” before the May 2019 midterm elections through intensifying police visibility, random checkpoints, and focused law enforcement operations to prevent election-related violence.

“The order includes directive to all provincial directors and chiefs of police to coordinate closely with the local chief executives and other stakeholders to ensure that security and safety measures would have the broad support of the community,” Albaylde said.

He added that the safety and security of all Filipinos are assured as the police force is working hard to make sure that law offenders will be caught and put behind bars.

The Palace, also on Monday, believes that PNP does not need to be instructed to speed up their investigations on the killings.

“Hindi na po dapat utusan si General Albayalde doon sa general command conference po. Siyempre ang assumption mabilis ang imbestigasyon nang makita natin na hindi natutulog sa pansitan ang gobyerno (General Albayalde does not need to be instructed on the general command conference. The assumption is that they would investigate quickly so the public can see that the government is not standing idly),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. told Palace reporters.

He added that there is no ‘system’ in the killings of the three local executives, saying that “the more plausible explanation behind this is it is really political season in the Philippines.”