LP condemns slay of North Cotabato leader

MANILA, Philippines - The Liberal Party (LP) has condemned the killing of its campaign leader in North Cotabato, saying that the attacks against its supporters were being done left and right.

“We are angered and saddened over the killing of Edwin Bandila, a campaign leader of the party, on the evening of Feb. 11. Edwin was shot as he was riding a motorcycle with his wife near the cemetery in the town of Carmen in North Cotabato,” LP said in a statement.

LP president and vice presidential candidate Sen. Manuel Roxas II said, “Again and again, the movers in our people’s campaign have been killed in cold blood, with little doubt as to the motives behind the killings.”

“It is clear that the opponents of honesty and integrity in government will stop at nothing to maintain the status quo of lying, cheating, and stealing. Again and again they have resorted to violence, while the bodies pile up and the victims’ families continue to cry for justice,” Roxas said.

“These incidents of election-related killings are an attack on democracy and on our very humanity,” he added.

Roxas urged the National Bureau of Investigation and other agencies to investigate the killing of Bandila immediately, and bring the perpetrators to justice swiftly and efficiently.

“We urge the Filipino people to take a stand against a system that allows such savagery to take place. The killings must stop. Justice must be served. This is what we are fighting for,” he said.