DUE to safety and security concerns, the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Cebu Chapter executive committee will ask the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 to reinstall their close-in aides.
Consolacion Mayor Teresa Alegado, LMP Cebu vice president, said their concern stems from the Jan. 22 ambush of San Fernando Mayor Lakambini Reluya that killed her husband Ricardo Jr., the town's Association of Barangay Councils president.
“With this kind of predicament that happened to one of our colleagues, kami sad mismo dili mi assured, especially karon kanunay bisan walay sala i-renown dayon nga drogas bisan wala pay proof and evidence (we ourselves are not assured of our safety, especially these days when even without proof, one is just rumored or reported to be involved in illegal drugs),” she told SunStar Cebu.
From Jan. 13 to June 12, the use of security personnel or bodyguards by candidates for the May elections, unless authorized in writing by the Commission on Elections, is prohibited.
The LMP executive committee composed of Alegado, and town Mayors Edwin Yu (Tudela), Beatriz Caburnay (Alcantara), Verna Magallon (Alegria) and Luciano Rama Jr. (Poro) met on Friday afternoon, Jan. 25, at the social hall of the Cebu Provincial Capitol.
Part of the agenda for their emergency meeting was also to see how the body could extend financial assistance to the Reluyas.
Aside from the reinstallment of their security detail, Alegado said they will also ask the PRO 7 to fast-track the investigation on the attack against the Reluyas.
“(We will pass a) resolution requesting the full, immediate assistance in terms of investigation and swift identification of who the real culprits are,” she said.
Alegado added that they will raise the issue of the spate of killings involving public officials and election candidates in Cebu during their LMP national meeting on Feb. 25 in Manila.