Statement of Vice President Leni Robredo on the Ambush and Death of Mayor Ronaldo Aquino of Calbayog, Samar

Ilang araw matapos ang massacre ng mga community organizer sa CALBARZON, sinasalubong muli tayo ng isa pang ulat ng pagpaslang.

Mayor Ronaldo Aquino was ambushed on the way to the birthday of his son, and he died upon arriving to the hospital. Those who knew him describe him as a dedicated public servant who worked hard to uplift the lives of the people of Calbayog.

Sa ibang panahon, marahil, mabibigla tayo sa karumaldumal na balitang ito. Marahil walang ibang lalamanin ang mga pahayagan kundi ang kaso ni Mayor Aquino. Pero nasa panahon tayo ngayon na tila naging manhid ang marami sa karahasan at kultura ng pagpatay.

Dalangin at panawagan ko ang pagkagising ng ating bansa. Hindi normal ang pagpaslang na ito. It should not be treated as normal that mayors, community organizers, lawyers, judges, journalists, children, and even victims of the drug trade are outright murdered in our streets or in their homes. We must connect the dots between these gruesome deaths and see the web that enables and emboldens these killings: Impunity, the normalization and incitement of violence, and the kill, kill, kill rhetoric coming from the highest offices.

Hindi kami mapapagod magsalita. Hindi kami titigil sa paggigiit ng karapatan at dignidad at halaga ng buhay ng bawat tao. We call for a clean, competent, and independent investigation into Mayor Ronaldo Aquino’s death, and for his murderers to be brought to justice.

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