Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 21) — Some municipal mayors are urging the military and the police to provide them with tighter security.
The request comes after recent ambush incidents involving a governor and a vice mayor in Lanao del Sur and Nueva Vizcaya, respectively.
Mayor Joenime Kapina of Palimbang town in Sultan Kudarat said they now have to be extra careful especially as barangay elections are nearing.
Kapina added they’re working to strengthen their intelligence network with the military and the police.
“So kaunting adjustment sa sistema ng paglakad at saka sa peace and order, kung paano masisiguro ‘yung mga taong nakapaligid at saka ‘yung mga taong dapat tututukan sa peace and order,” Kapina said.
[Translation: There will be some adjustments on how things will be run, as well as peace and order, and how we can secure the people around us.]
Some mayors from Capiz province, meanwhile, admit they have to increase the number of their security personnel.
Mayor Joe Villanueva of Sapi-An town said the situation distracts them from how they’re supposed to conduct their day-to-day work.
“Eh natural, eh nagiging conscious kami sa security namin; bigyan din ng opportunities ang mga mayor na magkaroon ng defense sa mga bagay-bagay na ganyan,” he said.
[Translation: It’s natural for us to be conscious of our security; I hope mayors will be given the opportunity to defend themselves against things like that.]
For Tapaz town mayor Roberto Palomar, receiving death threats is normal for local executives like them. That’s why when all else fails, he said all they can do is to pray to God.
