Officials seek justice for brutal killing of health officer
SURIGAO CITY — Officials of the Province of Dinagat Islands (PDI) are seeking justice for the brutal killing of PDI Health Officer Dr. Dr. Vicente L. Soco Jr.
The PDI officials also urged Provincial Director Senior Supt. Ramir Perlito P. Perlas to arrest the perpetrator and place him behind bars.
The officials led by PDI Rep. Arlene (Kaka) Bag-ao and Vice Gov. Benglen Ecleo also asked local police authorities to determine the motive of killing.
Last Friday, Dinagat officials and employees led by Vice Gov. Ecleo staged an indignation rally to condemn the brutal killing of Dr. Soco and demand justice.
The PDI Provincial Health Officer (PHO) was gunned down Thursday night by an unidentified gunman at Purok 2, Barangay New Mabuhay, Dinagat town, Dinagat Islands province.
According to initial investigation conducted by the Dinagat Municipal Police Station (MPS) and PDI PPO, the victim was watching TV while waiting for dinner at the family -owned gasoline station when an unidentified gunman barged at 7:40 p.m. on Thursday and peppered the body of Dr. Soco with bullets.
After shooting the victim, the unidentified suspect walked away and boarded a motorcycle and fled.
As of this time, Dinagat MPS and PDI PPO were still conducting an investigation to determine the motive of the killing and identity of the assailant.
Meanwhile, Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial on Monday denounced the shooting of Dr. Soco, the latest in a string of murders victimizing rural doctors.
“Killing a town’s physician is almost like killing the countless people who rely on this physician to ensure their health and longevity. While murdering a doctor leaves behind a bereaved spouse, children, siblings, parents, and other family (members) and friends, it also leaves behind an untold number of people whose lives become endangered when they are deprived of vital health care services this doctor provided,” the health secretary said in a statement.
Soco, is the sixth doctor killed this year. Also killed were Dreyfuss Perlas of Lanao del Norte, Jaja Sinolinding of Cotabato and George Repique of Cavite. The other two cases happened in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Tarlac.
“We call for the speedy resolution of the murder of Dr. Soco and the other government physicians who lost their lives to violent crimes in the past several months. We enjoin our nation’s law enforcement, justice organizations and witnesses to bring to an early resolution of the case so perpetrators of this crime will be brought to justice and do what it takes to deter any further killings by these outlaws,” Sec. Ubial added.