Senators say Duterte brought ‘the dark ages’ after killing of Tanauan mayor

By Camille A. Aguinaldo
Senators Risa N. Hontiveros-Baraquel and Antonio F. Trillanes IV on Tuesday, July 3, said President Rodrigo R. Duterte has brought “the dark ages” and turned the country into the “murder capital of Asia” in the country following the killing of Tanuan City, Batangas Mayor Antonio C. Halili.
“Political assassinations, like extrajudicial killings, are direct assaults on democracy. They abandon modern procedural justice in favor of satisfying the lust for blood and violence. The President has brought us back to the dark ages,” Ms. Baraquel said in a statement.
She said the mayor’s murder may have been attributed to the “climate of killing and impunity” that Mr. Duterte has nurtured. She also raised concerns over the safety of ordinary citizens now that local government officials and priests could be killed in broad daylight.
For his part, Mr. Trillanes said Mr. Duterte has put the country into a “culture of violence, saying that nothing justified Mr. Halili’s murder despite his alleged links to the illegal drug trade.
“Now, for someone who promised to restore peace and order in our country during the campaign, it is ironic for a lot of people that Duterte has actually turned the Philipppines into the murder capital of Asia.”
Both senators also urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to launch a full investigation into the incident. Mr. Trillanes asked the PNP to fulfill its mandate in protecting the citizens against criminals and to follow legal orders from their superiors.
Also on Tuesday, Malacañang called the killing of Mr. Halili as an “alarming” incident despite Mr. Duterte’s suspicion that the slain local official was involved in illegal drugs.
“[The] official statement of the Palace, despite the suspicion of the President, is that of course we are alarmed because killings of this nature should not be happening,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. said in a press briefing at the Palace on Tuesday morning, July 3.
He added: “[W][e are alarmed at the fact that it was in broad daylight and in such a public manner. Yes, we share the alarm and that’s why we have promised that we will leave no stones unturned in the investigation.”
Asked whether the culture of impunity is tolerated under the Duterte administration, Mr. Roque said, “Well, what we can assure you is that we are discharging the state obligation for every murder. We will investigate and accord the victims adequate domestic remedy.”