Press Release
April 19, 2007

LACSON CONDEMNS KILLING OF DAVAO COORDINATOR,
CULTURE OF CONTINUED IMPUNITY

Re-electionist Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson strongly condemned Thursday the continued culture of impunity in poll-related violence, following the murder of one of his political coordinators in Davao del Sur province.

Lacson learned that an unidentified man armed with an M-16 rifle shot dead his coordinator Ronnie Canugcog in Aplaya village in Digos town, Davao del Sur province, at 9 p.m. last April 14, a day after he visited the area.

"I am dismayed and I strongly condemn the continued culture of impunity that allows killers to snuff out precious lives, including that of my provincial coordinator. Why can't our government stop all this political violence, particularly directed at the opposition?" Lacson said.

He lamented that the killing betrays the failure of the present government to maintain control of the peace-and-order situation, especially with the campaign period nearing its homestretch.

Canugcog was Lacson's coordinator in Digos town in Davao del Sur. Lacson had stepped up his campaign in Mindanao last week, after joining the Genuine Opposition (GO) rally in Cagayan de Oro City.

Lacson, citing information reaching him, said local police investigators are looking into politics as a likely motive in the killing.

"What is dismaying is that after so many killings, Malacañang has not taken any serious step to address the problem. Instead, it resorted to a PR blitz to deodorize its image. It is high time Mrs. Arroyo and her rah-rah boys stop playing blind and start acting on the problem. That is, if they are still in control of the situation," Lacson said.

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