Roque to Robredo: Results of slay investigations not instant

Malacañang on Monday said Vice President Leni Robredo should wait for the results of investigations of recent killings after she expressed alarm over the series of slays. 

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the government was already investigating these deaths.

“Sa lahat po ng administrasyon mayroong mga ganiyang pinapatay. Ang isyu, ginagampanan ba ng estado ang katungkulan na mag-imbestiga, maglitis, magparusa at bigyan ng remedyo sang-ayon sa lokal na batas?” Roque said.

“Ang ating mensahe po kay Vice President Leni Robredo, hintayin naman po natin ang imbestigasyon, dahil hindi naman po instant iyan," he added.

"Mayroon po talagang mga hakbang na ginagawa ang kapulisan para ma-identify kung sino ang pumatay bago tayo magkaroon ng  conclusion,” Roque said.

In her weekly radio show, Robredo pointed out that the killing of the Los Baños, Laguna mayor Caesar Perez inside the municipal hall on Thursday was not an isolated incident.

“Mas natatakot ako sa impunity as a whole, na parang napakanormal na lang na mabalitaan natin na may mayor na pinatay, may judge na pinatay, may abogadong pinatay, may media man na pinatay. Alam mo iyon? Bakit ganoon?” she said.

She said that over the past month, a lawyer was shot dead in Palawan, a Manila judge was killed inside her own chamber, and a journalist died in an encounter with soldiers. 

A former mayor of Pagbilao, Quezon, meanwhile, died on Saturday, 11 days after being shot.

“Iyong mga nangyari, may napanagot na ba? Kasi mahirap na ganito, kasi kapag nangyayari iyong ganito na walang napapanagot, kasalanan ng pamahalaan na hindi niya kaya protektahan iyong kaniyang mga mamamayan,” Robredo said.

Roque said Robredo to file charges if she believed that the killing of Perez was state- sponsored.

Perez's name was on the list of politicians alleugedly involved in illegal drugs.

Perez was gunned down by still unidentified attackers on December 3 while walking toward the receiving area of the municipal hall.

According to Philippine National Police spokesman Police Brigadier General Ildebrandi Usana, Perez's inclusion on the narco list of President Rodrigo Duterte will be considered as one of the possible angles.

“It’s a live criminal investigation, hayaan na po muna natin matapos ang criminal investigation,” Roque said when asked to comment whether Perez’s death is connected to his alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.

Aside from the police, the National Bureau of Investigation is also looking into Perez’s slay. -NB, GMA News