TWO MAYORS, TWO VARYING REACTIONS

Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City says the recent killings of political figures do not scare him, adding that there’s always a threat; LMP-Cebu chapter president Democrito Diamante of Tuburan urges colleagues to be vigilant

Despite the spate of killings involving prominent political figures, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña sees no need to add more security personnel to keep him safe.

Last July 2, Tanauan City, Batangas Mayor Antonio Halili was shot dead during a weekly flag-raising ceremony in front of city hall.

Yesterday, General Tinio, Nueva Ecija Mayor Ferdinand Bote was killed by unidentified assailants.

These developments, Osmeña said, do not bother nor scare him.

Not afraid

“I have no plans of adding security. I don’t like the people to see a mayor who is scared because I am not scared. There’s always a threat. Actually, when I first ran for mayor, the threat was higher because the sparrows were very active in Cebu City,” he added.

Osmeña referred to an armed city partisan unit created in the ‘80s by the Communist Party of the Philippines popularly known as “Sparrows.”

For his part, Tuburan Mayor Democrito Diamante, president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Cebu chapter,

urged members to remain vigilant following the murders of Halili and Bote.

He told reporters that with criminal elements targeting local officials, his colleagues should secure the assistance of law enforcement agencies or private security personnel if they receive any threats.

During the Regional Peace and Order Council 7 meeting yesterday, Diamante said that what happened to Halili and Bote should be a reminder to mayors to be careful.

If some of them already have close-in security, they should enhance them, he added, especially if they have been involved in fierce political rivalries.