Malacañang sees no pattern on official killings, says its ‘political season’

FILE: “So tingin ko po (I think), the more plausible explanation behind this is it’s really political season here in the Philippines,” Roque further said. ( YANCY LIM/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

Malacañang said on Monday, July 9, that there is no pattern in the recent slays of local government officials and that these killings could be because of the “political season.”

“Talagang kinalulungkot natin lahat ng patayang ito, pero wala naman pong siste na lumalabas sa mga patayang ito ‘no. (These killings are really saddening, but there is not system),” Presidential Harry Roque, Jr. said in a press briefing.

He explained that one of the three slain politicians was included in President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s narcolist, one was not listed, and the spokesman has no idea if the third one is included or not. He was referring to Tanauan, Batangas Mayor Antonio Halili; General Tinio, Nueva Ecija Mayor Ferdinand Bote; and Trece Martires, Cavite Vice Mayor Alexander Lubigan, respectively.

However, according to him, despite the different theories on the possible motives, the only common factor is that the three are politicians.

“So tingin ko po (I think), the more plausible explanation behind this is it’s really political season here in the Philippines,” Roque further said.

With this, the spokesman said that the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is planning to impose gun ban earlier.

“Dahil (Because) normally, there is only a gun ban during the election season, but I understand that the COMELEC is studying imposing the ban earlier than usual dahil mukhang marami na nga hong patayan na nangyayari (because a lot of killings are happening) preparatory to the elections,” he said.

According to Roque, it is also the State’s obligation to probe these cases thoroughly, and that they expect that through Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde’s leadership, it will be done quickly.

“So there’s no system behind [the] killings pero (but) [the] common obligation of the State is to accord justice and of course domestic remedy for all victims of these killings,” he continued.

The Palace also distanced itself from leaning on a political or a drug-related angle on these killings while the probe is ongoing.

“Wala pa po dahil nag-i-imbestiga pa po. So inaantay po natin ang resulta ng imbestigasyon (None yet since the investigation is still going on. So we are waiting for the result of the investigation),” he said.