CALBAYOG CITY, Samar, May 26 (PNA) – The Roman Catholic Church diocese in this city has condemned the series of killing incidents victimizing local officials here.
The statement signed by Bishop of Calbayog, Isabelo Abarquez, states that “taking of human life, and the inflicting of injury and suffering on anyone, whether as an act of aggression or revenge, can never be justified.”
“The Diocese of Calbayog does not tolerate any form of repression especially through extra judicial killings. The right to life is a gift for everybody and no one has the right to take it.”
Abarquez reaffirmed that “the wheel of justice is the proper venue for resolution of any case.”
The diocese calls on the proper authorities to conduct a thorough and speedy investigation on the series of killings in Calbayog City and bring those responsible into the “bar of justice.”
The Calbayog city police office recorded 15 shooting incidents in the city from January to May this year. The latest victims were village chiefs Edgar Belleza of Carayman and Rio Lebario of Dagum and his councilor Dionesio Lungsod.
Meanwhile, Calbayog City Mayor Ronaldo Aquino said that the recent waves of killings in the city, do not only challenge the capability of the police to protect the interest of the constituency, and the strength of the administration to maintain peace and order in the community.
“It is also a challenge to the integrity of every city resident to cooperate and work hand in hand with one another in seeing to it that the general welfare is assured.”
He further stated that as the mayor and the chairman of the Regional Peace and Order Council he condemns the killings as “these are acts of savagery, not expressions of normal persons, and do not in any way characterize Christian formation and being peace loving people.”
Aquino assured the public that he will “pursue every effort, and take every opportunity to bring justice to the victims and place criminal elements to the clutches of law for them to pay the price of their actions and to vindicate the lives of those slain.”
He assured that he will not allow said type of behavior to continue threatening the peace and security situation in the city.
Mayor Aquino calls on everyone to cooperate in pursuing against those lawless elements. He said that the law enforces and the administration cannot do as much without the assistance from the public.
“Let us all be aware that for criminality to be appropriately dealt with, everyone should be involved ; for after all, peace and security is the concern of everyone.” Aquino said.
Aquino assured city resident that all programs and services that have already started and others that are yet to follow, will not be affected by the recent incidents.
The city government will give a reward of PHP75,000.00 per assailant to anyone who can provide any lead that would lead to arrest of suspects. (PNA)
CTB/SQM/JSA
