DEPARTMENT of the Interior and Local Government officer-in-charge Eduardo Año said on Wednesday, October 3, that he will recommend the declaration of La Union as an election hot spot following the killing of Sudipen town Mayor Alexander Buquing.
"Itong kay Mayor Buquing, ang nakikita ng PNP (Philippine National Police) ay politics (In the case of Mayor Buquing, the PNP thinks it is related to politics). But we will go where the evidence will lead us," he said.
"Napansin natin with the killing of Buquing na parang katulad ito ng hot spots natin like Abra, like Mindanao so we have to wait for the assessment of Comelec (Commission on Elections) and the PNP. Accordingly, we will address it through deployment of additional *security persons," he added.
Buquing was killed while on board his vehicle on Monday, October 1, around 6:45 p.m., along Bangar-Castro Provincial road, Barangay Cadali, Bangar, La Union.
Also killed were his driver Boni Depdepen and his security escort Police Officer 2 Rolando Juanbe.
His wife, Sudipen Vice Mayor Joy Buquing, survived the attack, but was wounded.
Authorities said that among the primary motives they were looking at are politics and business. Buquing has not been linked to illegal drugs activities.
Buquing was the 11th mayor killed since President Rodrigo Duterte took office in 2016.
Some of the slain mayors - such as Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Jr., Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog, Tanauan City, Batangas Mayor Antonio Halili - were among those tagged as narco-politicians.
Año said not all the killings were drug-related.
"Itong labing-isa na 'to halos ang drugs-related lamang dito ay 'yung kay Parojinog at 'yung sa kay Espinosa. Ang karamihan dito ay politics at personal motive (Only those involving Parojinog and Espinosa were drugs-related. Most of the cases involved politics and personal motive)," he said.
"Slowly naman may naso-solve ng pulis natin, 'yung kay Mayor Ferdinand Bote solved na 'yun, nafile-an na ng kaso 'yung culprits (Our police are gradually resolving these cases. The case of Mayor Ferdinand Bote has been solved and the culprits have been charged)," he added. (SunStar Philippines)