The League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) condemns the spate of killings of local government officials, from municipal mayors down to councilors and barangay captains.

        Speaking in behalf of the 1, 495 members of the league, LMP National President Ramon N. Guico, Jr. deplored, "While our crime fighters, notably the PNP and the AFP, pride in achieving a significant reduction of criminality in the country, it is regrettable that this achievement is marred by a proliferation of political killings beginning with the advent of the year."

        Guico cited several cases.
 
        "Mayor Cesar Rafael of Paracellis, Mountain Province was killed right inside his farm in Paracellis in December 2007. The start of 2008 seemed to present a gruesome pattern for local government officials. Mayor David Pamplona of Balete, Batangas fell in February. Just last month, Mayor Engr. Arthur S. Cabantac of Agno, Pangasinan was assassinated.

        "These are just a few of the killings of duly-elected government officials perpetrated by forces that remain unknown to this day," he stressed.
 
        Secretary-General Manuel Escalante admitted there is no protection from a determined assassin.

        "What we must get through to those resorting to violence against political enemies is that there are lawful remedies to their grievances. They can wait for the next election, or if they cannot, there is the power of recall which anyone may avail of under the local government code," he said.

        According to Escalante, the LMP National Directorate (ND) will be convening soon to address the menace of political killings.

        "This has become very urgent," said Guico, who is Chairman of the LMP ND. "We envision a strengthening of local peace and order mechanisms, for instance, an updated version of the barangay self-defense scheme BSDO. We believe political killings can best be addressed at the grassroots level."