Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 6) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered law enforcement officials to seek out “hot spots” to stop violence after attacks on local government officials.
“Sinabi ko sa ating (Interior) Secretary (Benhur) Abalos and PNP is to now make an examination kagaya yung ating ginagawa kapag darating ang eleksyon kung saan ang hotspot. Sabi ko gawin niyo uli ngayon. Don’t think of the elections first. But think kung ano yung mga hotspot na mainit na mga lugar at tingnan natin,” Marcos said on Monday.
[Translation: I told our Secretary Abalos and PNP to make an examination similar to what we do when elections are nearing to determine the hot spots. I told them to do it again now. Don’t think of the elections first. Think instead of where the hot spots are so we can take a look at them.]
The president briefly spoke to the media after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of agreement on the Kapatid Angat Lahat Agri Program (KALAP).
Marcos also said getting rid of illegal firearms would lead to fewer crimes.
“Ang usual naman talaga na dapat gawin diyan ay hanapin ang illegal na firearms. Basta kakaunti ang illegal firearms, kakaunti ang ganyang klaseng krimen. Yung mga private army na ganyan, kailangan talaga i-dismantle lahat ‘yan.” he added
[Translation: What usually needs to be done is to look for illegal firearms. As long as there are a few firearms, there will be fewer of these types of crimes. These illegal armies, they have to be dismantled.]
‘Unacceptable’
Marcos also spoke about the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo in broad daylight inside his residential compound in Brgy. San Isidro in Pamplona, Negros Oriental.
\”The killing of Governor Degamo is entirely unacceptable and it will not stand. This cannot go unpunished,\” the president said, adding that the killing was \”particularly terrifying.\”
A fifth suspect in the killing was arrested, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said on Monday.
Four suspects are now detained, while one was killed in an armed encounter hours after the shooting of Degamo.
Marcos said the assassination was \”purely political.\”
