(Eagle News)–The Palace on Wednesday, Jan. 23, condemned the ambush on San Fermando, Cebu Mayor Lakambini Reluya, adding that the “culture of violence that has characterized the electoral process will have to end.”
In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said during the election period, “political rivalry is fever pitch resulting in the upsurge of election-related violence” but this “unfortunate and standard norm cannot continue..”
“We urge [and] 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,” he said.
He said “violence is anathema to democracy and this administration will not allow nor tolerate any violence unleashed by any person or group that puts the voters and the general public at risk.”
The President, Panelo said, is “committed to shepherd peaceful, honest and orderly elections.”
The Philippine National Police in fact, he said, “has been directed to monitor areas considered hotspots and to enforce the law strictly regardless of who is involved.”
Citizens for their part, he said, “must be vigilant and it must put to notice law enforcement authorities on any brewing electoral violence between and among the candidates and their followers in their respective localities.”
Apart from Reluya, two others were injured in the ambush in Talisay on Tuesday, Jan. 22.
Her three bodyguards were killed.
Reluya’s ambush took place after the high-profile killing of Rep. Rodel Batocabe in December last year.
Daraga, Albay Mayor Carlwyn Baldo was tagged by police as the mastermind in that killing.
