There appears to be a breakdown of law and order in places where the political feud is at its bloodiest.
Two successive assassinations and two attempts carried out with such brazenness and impunity brought about the grisly deaths of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and Aparri, Cagayan Vice Mayor Rommel Alameda, and the serious wounding of Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong and Mayor Otho Montawal of Tungol, Datu Montawal, Maguindanao del Sur.
On Twitter, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. posted the following after the killing of Degamo:
“My government will not rest until we have brought the perpetrators of this dastardly and heinous crime to justice.
“I am warning all those involved in this killing. You can run but you cannot hide. We will find you. If you surrender now, it will be your best option.”
Vice President Sara Duterte, describing the late Governor Degamo as a “dear friend” and a “political ally,” condemned his killing, saying “his death is a tragedy to the province of Negros Oriental.” She urged the authorities to immediately probe the “cowardly, evil act and bring the perpetrators to justice to pay for their crime, especially the brains behind it.”
She added: “The attack exposes the extent of desperation, depravity, and the thirst for violence of the people who masterminded it as they showed an absolute absence of regard for the lives of the five civilians who were among the fatalities — making it more appalling and unforgivable.”
What power has emboldened the masterminds and the hired assassins to unleash their brutal and deathly violence against their targets, seemingly impervious to state prosecution and punishment crashing down on them?
Is the government not brandishing its sword of justice enough to not make these criminal elements fear the wrath of the law?
Is its voice of authority muzzled so that it cannot be heard by those defiant law violators to make them stop in their murderous tracks?
Have our law enforcers become saintly and impotent that they can no longer enforce the law swiftly and effectively with grit and courage against the perpetrators of heinous crimes?
When the government fails to arrest, prosecute and jail those who mock and defy the law, it clothes them with arrogant boldness and unyielding defiance in transgressing the laws of the land and perpetrating dastardly acts of violence and murders.
These series of killings and ambushes against public officials and civilians must be stopped at all costs.
Law enforcement agents must be always on their toes and undertake preemptive measures to counter and neutralize the commission of crimes.
There can be no vacillation or equivocation in the fight against crime.
The government must declare war against criminality and relentlessly pursue the criminals to the ends of the archipelago until they are justly but severely punished for their crimes.
The prime duty of the government is to serve and protect the people.
For as long as laws are wantonly transgressed and culprits go scot-free; for as long as public servants are assassinated by fearless assailants; for as long as citizens walk the streets with fear as their traveling companion; and for as long as the law enforcers are inefficient and lackadaisical in going against the lawbreakers, the citizenry will not feel the service and the protection they are entitled to from the government they have created and the leaders they have given the mandate to lead and govern them.