Vice President Leni Robredo said the culture of impunity and the “kill, kill, kill rhetoric” coming from President Rodrigo Duterte’s government “enable” murders like the killing of Calbayog City Mayor Ronaldo Aquino.

On Tuesday, March 9, the Philippine opposition leader made a scathing condemnation of Aquino’s murder, saying killings of Filipinos – from elected officials to drug suspects – should never be treated as normal. 

“Dalangin at panawagan ko ang pagkagising ng ating bansa. Hindi normal ang pagpaslang na ito (I am praying and calling for our country to wake up. This killing is not normal). It should not be treated as normal that mayors, community organizers, lawyers, judges, journalists, children, and even victims of the drug trade are outright murdered in our streets or in their homes,” Robredo said in a statement. 

“We must connect the dots between these gruesome deaths and see the web that enables and emboldens these killings: Impunity, the normalization and incitement of violence, and the kill, kill, kill rhetoric coming from the highest offices,” added the Vice President. 

Aquino and 3 of his bodyguards were aboard a van in Barangay Lonoy in Calbayog when they were shot dead by assailants on Monday, March 8. 

Initial reports said the gunmen were riding motorcycles, but the police later clarified that the gunmen were aboard another vehicle.

Philippine National Police chief General Debold Sinas said it was a “shootout.” But Samar 1st District Representative Edgar Mary Sarmiento, Aquino’s longtime friend and political ally, believes it was an “ambush.”

Aquino’s killing came just a day after the “Bloody Sunday” raids by the police and the military in the Calabarzon region, where at least 9 activists were killed and 6 others arrested. 

Robredo not only denounced the “massacre” of the activists, but she also pointed out that the deadly operations were conducted days after Duterte himself issued another “shoot to kill” order against communist insurgents. 

Despite the string of killings, the Vice President said she would never get tired of speaking out for justice. 

“Hindi kami titigil sa paggigiit ng karapatan at dignidad at halaga ng buhay ng bawat tao (We will not stop fighting for the rights, dignity, and sanctity of life of every person). We call for a clean, competent, and independent investigation into Mayor Ronaldo Aquino’s death, and for his murderers to be brought to justice,” said Robredo. 

Bishop Isabelo Abarquez of Calbayog, Samar also condemned the murder of Aquino and his aides, and urged authorities to conduct a thorough investigation on their deaths. – Rappler.com