Negros Occidental teacher gunned down on eve of election duty

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – The teacher killed by still unidentified men late Sunday night, May 8, was set to serve as a Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) member in her hometown of Himamaylan for the 2022 national and local elections.

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday, May 9, condemned the murder of Mercy Miguel.

“Though it is unclear yet if such brutality was election-related, we denounce any acts of violence and injustice towards our teachers, who have dedicated their lives to the Filipino children and are now selflessly serving the country in this year’s election,” DepEd’s statement said.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones has already instructed the Office of the Undersecretary of Finance to provide financial and other necessary assistance to the teacher and her family.

Police said the victim and her husband were on their way home onboard a motorcycle when they encountered huge rocks piled on the road at Crossing Calasa in Barangay Caradio-an, Himamaylan City.

When they got off their ride to remove the rocks, the suspects hiding in a grassy portion of the road shot the teacher, who was hit in the stomach.

Miguel was rushed to the Gov. Valeriano Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival. Her husband was unharmed. Police are still investigating whether the killing is election-related. Public school teachers serve as election deputies.

Mayor Raymund Tongson condemned the killing, condoled with Mercy’s family, ordered the police force to exhaust all efforts to arrest the killers, and asked social media users to stop using the incident as a political tool.

DepEd Election Task Force Chair and Undersecretary Alain Del Pascua is coordinating with the concerned field offices and local officials to investigate the incident and to provide support to the victim’s family and colleagues, the DepEd statement also said.

The department also called on the local authorities in Negros Occidental to “deliver swift justice for such (a) heinous crime” and “to protect our teachers, poll workers, and voters.” – Rappler.com