POLITICAL ASSASSINATIONS, ASSAULT ON DEMOCRACY

*Statement of Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros on the assassination of Mayor Halili

I condemn the assassination of Tanauan City Mayor Antonio Halili, who was killed during a flag ceremony on Monday.

My sincerest condolences go out to the Halili family and the constituents he left behind. I call on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to launch a full investigation into this foul act of murder and bring all those responsible to justice.

This is another murder that possibly rode on the wave of killings in the country. It could be directly attributed to the climate of killing and impunity created and nurtured by President Rodrigo Duterte, which has disturbingly devalued human life.

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.

We are less safe than ever before. In fact, we are not safe at all. If mayors, other local government officials and even priests can be killed in broad daylight, the threat to ordinary civilians is that much greater.