(Eagle News) — The Palace on Thursday, Jan. 31, condemned as “deplorable” the killings of a National Democratic Front of the Philippines consultant and a Quezon City barangay chair.
In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo urged a “speedy and impartial investigation” into the killings of NDFP consultant Randy Malayao and Barangay Bagong Silangan chair Crisell Beltran, saying “everyone must be accountable before the law.”
“Politics or differences in ideology or religion can never be a reason or a motivating factor to kill or to injure any person. Acts of violence has no place in a democratic society…Justice must be served no matter the cost,” Panelo said.
Malayao was killed as he was sleeping on a bus headed for Nueva Vizcaya in Aritao on Wednesday, Jan. 30.
Reports said the gunman had boarded the bus on a bus stop.
Later in the day, Beltran, who had plans of running for a seat in the House of Representatives in May, was ambushed by several gunmen on board two motorcycles on J.P. Rizal St. in Quezon City.
She and her driver, Melchor Salita, were declared dead on arrival in the hospital.
Several others were also injured in the incident the police have classified as an election-related killing.