“It was clarified by our regional director… so far as the parameters of the PNP is concerned, hindi papasok sa election-related incident sa pagpatay doon sa political blogger at kapitan (the killing of the political blogger and barangay captain are not election-related),” Police Major Eudisan Gultiano said during a radio interview.
Matiao Barangay Captain Ronnie Valera was shot on April 13 inside his residence while political blogger Danila Lumikid Jr. was shot while driving his motorcycle on April 1.
Gultiano said the public may relate the killing incidents to the upcoming elections but she clarified it is not the case. She said investigations on both incidents are ongoing and are leading towards a non-political motive.
“We hope to give an update next week as to the progress of investigation of Lumikid and hopefully by the end of the month din ma-solve natin ang kay (we will solve the death of) Captain Valera,” she said.
Despite the killing of Valera and Lumikid, Mati City and the municipality of Manay in Davao Oriental remain areas tagged by PRO-Davao as safe or having no security concern under the election watchlist areas.
In total, there are a total of 16 election hotspots in Davao Region considered areas of concern for the election season.
Areas tagged as Yellow category or election areas of concern include the municipalities of Sta. Cruz, Matanao, Magsaysay, Malalag, Hagonoy, Padada, New Corella, and Monkayo.
Meanwhile, the municipalities of Kiblawan, Lupon, Mabini, Maco, Maragusan, Montevista, New Bataan, and Pantukan are election areas of immediate concern tagged as Orange category.
Gultiano said PRO-Davao is strengthening the presence of police personnel in the said areas to maintain security.
“May mga augmented personnel tayo coming from the region. Especially nag augment tayo sa provinces like Davao del Sur and Davao de Oro kasi sila ang mga may (We have augmented the police personnel from the region especially in provinces like Davao del Sur and Davao de Oro because they have) identified election areas of concern and election areas of immediate concern,” she said.
