Palace: It’s political season in Philippines with series of killings

July 9, 2018

The series of killings involving local officials were indications that it is already "political season" in the Philippines, a Palace official said on Monday.

In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the latest murder of three local executives in less than a week did not show any pattern.

"You cannot even say that all those who were killed were in the narco list," he said, noting that only one of the three was in the list of local government officials who were allegedly involved in illegal drugs.

Roque was referring to Tanauan City Mayor Antonio Halili who was killed during a flag raising ceremony in front of the Tanauan City Hall on June 2 by an unidentified assailant.

Halili was included in the government's narco list. His family denied the late mayor's link in the illegal drug trade.

A day after Halili was slain, General Tinio, Nueva Ecija Mayor Ferdinand Bote was ambushed in Cabanatuan City and four days after, Trece Martires City Vice Mayor Alexander Lubigan also died in an ambush, along with his bodyguard.

"I think the more plausible explanation behind these (killings) is, it's really political season in the Philippines," Roque said.

He said this was the reason why the Commission on Elections was planning to extend the imposition of gun ban during elections.

"Normally, there’s only a gun ban during the election season, but I understand that the Comelec is now studying the possibility of imposing the ban earlier than usual because apparently, that were several killings that have been happening already preparatory to the elections," he said.

The Philippines will conduct its mid-term national and local elections in May 2019. The Filipinos will elect 12 new senators, congressmen down to the municipal councilors. Celerina Monte/DMS