By Ferdinand Patinio | Philippine News Agency
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) vowed to bring to justice the perpetrators of the killing of the acting election officer (EO) of Nunungan, Lanao del Norte.
“The Commission, in close coordination with law enforcement, is committed to ensuring that the perpetrators of this heinous act are swiftly identified and brought to justice. Measures are being taken to expedite the investigation, and we will work tirelessly to prevent similar incidents in the future,” Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said in a statement Tuesday.
Reports said two unidentified motorcycle-riding assassins waylaid the victim, Mark Orlando Vallecer II, who was driving his vehicle in Barangay Curva Miagao in Salvador, Lanao del Norte on Monday afternoon.
He was rushed to a hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor.
Garcia deplored the incident, noting that “violence has no place in a democratic society.”
“Such acts spread fear, disrupt the electoral process, and undermine the values of justice and freedom that bind us as a nation. We mourn the loss of a colleague who served with courage and integrity, and we extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. The Commission remains steadfast in its mission to uphold free, fair, and peaceful elections,” he said.
Garcia, however, said the poll body would not be deterred by violence and that those who seek to harm the country’s democracy will face the full force of justice.
“As we approach the upcoming elections, we call on candidates, supporters, and the public to reject violence and intimidation. True leadership is earned through respect, trust, and principled competition, not fear and coercion,” he said.