DAVAO CITY — The Philippine Councilors’ League (PCL) on Sunday condemned the killing of Councilor Isagani Amboa Joson of Lagayan town, Abra.
The statement was issued by Davao City Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, PCL national chairman, who lamented the killings of local legislators since July.
He cited the murder of Alfredo Alvarez and Zaldy Mallari of Cagayan, Roni Mamaclay of Sarangani and Alexander Alicaway of Cebu.
Joson succumbed to two gunshot wounds. He was shot dead nside his house in Sitio Manaoisa in Poblacion on August 8.
All officials were members of the PCL.
Dayanghirang said the deaths of Joson and other PCL members are greatly felt by the organization.
As of Saturday, authorities have no leads yet on the persons responsible for Joson’s killing.
The PCL previously sought exemption from the ban on carrying guns for local legislators in Mindanao.
Dayanghirang said their members feel the need to carry a firearm at all times for self-defense amid the spate of killings of local officials.
“Most of the officials are faced with threats, especially when ordinances are passed that may directly affect the lives of those from the other side of the fence,” Dayanghirang said in a letter addressed to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on July 18.
Dayanghirang said Mindanao officials who are gun-holders cannot carry their firearms outside their residences because martial law remains in effect.
It may be recalled that following the declaration of martial law in Mindanao, all Permits to Carry firearms were also cancelled.
Dayanghirang said the local officials’ concern on the killings was raised during a dialogue with President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacañang.
He said while not all of the cases were political killings, there were also cases of robbery and related to the businesses of the victims. (Lilian Mellejor/PNA)
