Politics eyed behind ambush of Mayor Lakambini Reluya

The PNP chief added that he is giving the Cebu police officials two weeks to solve the case. (File photo by Joey O. Razon/PNA)

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde on Wednesday, January 23, said politics may be the reason behind the attempt on the life of San Fernando, Cebu Mayor Lakambini “Neneth” Reluya.

“Accordingly, ang tinitignang anggulo dito is one is ‘yung pulitika talaga (the angle that we are looking here is one, it is really politics),” Albayalde told reporters.

“Ang sabi ni mayora ang talagang belief niya is politically motivated itong pangyayaring ito, so ito ‘yung tinitignan natin (The mayor said she believes that this incident is politically motivated, so we are really looking at it),” he added.

Although she thinks that politics was the motive behind the ambush, Albayalde, however, said Reluya did not give names of possible suspects to the police.

Onboard a white van, Reluya and her five companions were travelling across Barangay Linao, Talisay City on Tuesday when unidentified gunmen opened fire at their vehicle.

The mayor and two other passengers were able to survive the attack and were rushed to the nearest hospital after sustaining minor injuries.

However, three of their companions were killed on the spot, including Reluya’s husband, Barangay Chairman Ricardo “Nonoy” Reluya, Jr.

Albayalde said their regional office in Cebu already created a special investigation task force (SITG) to look into the incident.

“So far, wala pa silang nakukuhang lead or even persons of interest. On the process pa lang sila na kinukuha ‘yung CCTV (closed-circuit television) footages doon sa area (they do not have lead or even persons of interest. They are still on the process of obtaining CCTV footages in the area),” the top cop said.

The PNP chief added that he is giving the Cebu police officials two weeks to solve the case.

Malacañang, also on Wednesday, condemned the ambush and hoped for the speedy recovery of Reluya, who is seeking reelection in the May 2019 elections.

During the election period, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said “political rivalry is fever pitch resulting in the upsurge of election-related violence” but stressed that this should not continue.

“We urge even as we warn the candidates to cease and desist employment of undemocratic and illegal methods to win for the law on accountability shall be applied to them with full force and effect,” the spokesman said.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier warned candidates who might resort to violence just so they can win in the elections.

“Let me just say, I promise the Filipino people, my country that I will not allow political terrorism, oppression, and intimidation,” he earlier said when he increased the bounty for the arrest of suspects behind the killing of AKO Bicol Representative Rodel Batocabe, who was supposed to run for mayor in Daraga, Albay.

[READ: Duterte increases bounty for the arrest of Batocabe killers to P50-million]