Lomibao alarmed over La Union slays

SAN FERNANDO CITY — Alarmed by the 10 killings in La Union in the past year involving prominent people, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Arturo Lomibao said he is willing to transfer all of the PNP’s resources here if only to stop these incidents.

Lomibao, in his speech during the PNP’s 15th anniversary here the other day, said, "I’m alarmed over the numerous killings here in La Union over the past months."

He said such incidents did not happen when he was the police director of La Union and the Ilocos region.

"The treachery and the disrespect for the rule of law and the law enforcers make every resident of La Union wonder why these have been happening," he said.

"If we have to transfer all of the resources of the PNP to Region 1 or to the province of La Union, I will do that if only to stop these killings… That is my directive and that is my assurance to the people of Region 1," he said.

"We cannot be harassed by this kind of killings… This should not happen in a province like La Union because it is a very peaceful province," he added.

Lomibao vowed to bring to justice all those responsible for the killings. "We will leave no stone unturned no matter who gets hurt," he said.

In an interview with Pangasinan newsmen, Lomibao said there is a pattern in these killings, and "it looks like it’s political," adding that guns-for-hire from elsewhere might have been "imported" to carry out the murders.

He said he could not allow such violence to continue especially since the 2007 elections are nearing.

Although the police continue to gather solid evidence in these slayings, Lomibao appealed to the people to assist the police in their investigation.

"No amount of enthusiasm, no amount of technology we have (would suffice) if there are no people to testify and willing to come out in the open," he said.

Despite the series of killings here, the La Union police was named the Police Provincial Office of the Year during the PNP anniversary celebration.

Chief Superintendent Alfredo de Vera Jr., regional police director, said, "That is one of their negatives but they have more on the positive side."