Robredo calls for unity against “slay culture”

FILE: Robredo believes that most Filipinos are already filled with rage in these kinds of news; this is why she called on authorities’ aid, especially the police (Photo: VP Leni Robredo/Facebook)

Amidst all the recent killings filling the media’s headlines, the Vice President chose to call on Filipinos to unite against the “culture of slaying.”

Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo expressed her worry over the recent slays involving priests, government officials, and loiterers or the youth.

“Kaisa ako sa bawat Pilipinong naghahangad sa isang bansang malaya mula sa tahasang paggamit ng karahasan; isang bansa kung saan abot-kamay ang hustisya para sa mga biktima ng walang saysay na pagpatay, anuman ang katayuan sa buhay (I am with all the Filipinos who are aiming for a country that is free from the use of violence; a country in which justice is attainable for the victims of nonsense killings, regardless of one’s status in life),” Robredo said through a statement on Wednesday, July 4.

“Nakababahala kung iniisip na ng iba nating mga kababayan na pangkaraniwan na ang ganitong karahasan sa ating lipunan. Papayag ba tayong tuluyang maghari ang dahas sa ating bayan? (It is alarming if some of us are thinking that it is normal to see this much violence in our society. Are we going to let this violence reign in our country?)” she questioned.

Robredo believes that most Filipinos are already filled with rage in these kinds of news, that is why she called on authorities’ aid, especially the police.

“Mariin akong nananawagan sa mga awtoridad, lalo na sa ating kapulisan, na paigtingin ang imbestigasyon sa mga krimeng ito at gumawa ng agarang mga hakbang upang matigil ang tila sunod-sunod na patayan (I am strongly calling on the authorities, especially the police, to tighten their investigation in these crimes and to apply immediate measures to stop these consecutive slays)” the Vice President added.

Moreover, Robredo said that it should not reach a stage in which there is chaos, and in this age, the only way to do this is to be more open and vocal against this “culture of slaying.”

“Sa ating mga salita at gawa, ipakita natin ang tunay na mukha ng Pilipino: mapagkalinga, hindi marahas; may pagpapahalaga sa buhay ng kapwa, at hindi sa pagkitil nito (Through our words and actions, let us show the true face of a Filipino: someone caring, not violent, gives importance to human lives by not killing),” she added.

Just days before Robredo’s statement, two mayors were already killed in two different incidents this week; namely, Tanauan, Batangas Mayor Antonio Halili and General Tinio, Nueva Ecija Mayor Ferdinand Bote. Since December last year, three Catholic priests were also killed in separate cases – Father Marcelino Paez, Father Mark Anthony Ventura, and Father Richmond Nilo.

Meanwhile, just last month, there was another case of killing, this time involving a camidst the administration’s anti-drive campaign.