The recent spate of killings involving politicians is utterly unparalleled.
Last Saturday, March 4, 2023, Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and eight civilians were shot and killed while many more were injured right inside his compound.
Governor Degamo was distributing financial aid to his constituents when the incident happened.
Watching the clip of the video caught by the CCTV camera that was posted on social media was like watching a movie.
Men in full battle gear casually walked into the compound. What happened next was so brazen and gory. Without mercy, they shot the governor, his bodyguards, including those who were near him.
I could not hold myself and cursed the gunmen.
Last Feb. 17, Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. survived an ambush in the town of Maguing, but his companions Juraji Adiong, Aga Sumandar, Jalil Cosain and Kobi were killed.
On Feb. 19, another ambush happened in Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya, killing Aparri, Cagayan Vice Mayor Rommel Alameda and five of his companions.
What is worse, the assassins were in police uniform and used a government car.
The killers of Degamo were former military men.
So, preposterous!
Governor Degamo was popular. Support and sympathies for his bereaved family poured in not only from his colleagues in the province and region, but also from national leaders, including President BBM. Majority of the senators even went to his wake at his home where he was assassinated. Former President Rodrigo Duterte condoled with the widow, Pamplona Mayor Janice, on the phone.
Mayor Janice, speaking in Tagalog, told the press: “Sana po ay matigil na ito. Hindi lang po matigil, dapat ay mapanagot dahil habang walang mapapanagot tulad na lang sa nangyari sa isang goberndor sa Mindanao at isa sa north ay isang vice mayor, nakakabahala po yung ganung pagpapatay ng local officials.”
President BBM condemned Degamo’s killing in the strongest terms.
The senators passed a resolution condemning the killing of Governor Degamo and the other victims.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros has called for a Senate investigation.
During his visit to the wake, Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, in a press interview, called on the national police to round up illegal firearms.
Wish, all their efforts will have positive results so we won’t return to the olden days of political violence.
To the PNP, arrest, do not kill the killers for them to tell all.
CHAMPIONS. Allow my prejudice to rule over my unbiased writing this time.
My emotions have overwhelmed me with the extraordinary record that our Club Filipino de Cebu earned in this year’s 74th PAL Interclub Invitational Golf Tournament that was held in Cebu on Feb. 22-24 for the Senior’s and on March 1-4 for the Men’s.
The tournament was conducted in the fairways of Club Filipino de Cebu in Danao City and Alta Vista Golf & Country Club and Cebu Country Club, both in Cebu City.
The Senior’s and Men’s teams of Club Filipino de Cebu made history in the sports of golf when they won back-to-back as champions in the Sportswriters Division in the last 74th PAL invitation golf tournament that was on hiatus during the Covid-19 pandemic.
It’s the first for the Senior’s team.
Tournament director Calvin Gothong is the Men’s team captain, while yours truly captained the Senior’s team. Boboy Durano was runner-up in Class C of the Senior’s Division in the individual honor.
Well done, boys, said president Ed Aliño on the Club’s double victory.