Duterte wants violence in Negros town stopped

BACOLOD CITY – President Duterte warned two political factions in the town of Moises Padilla in Negros Occidental to stop election-related violence.

Duterte, accompanied by former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, visited Moises Padilla on Wednesday, two days after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) placed the town under its control following the killing of a councilor and his uncle.

Duterte met with the top security officials after expressing concern for the death of Councilor Jose Antonio Garcia and his uncle, Jose Marcelino Garcia who were killed in an ambush at Barangay Inolingan on April 25.

The slain victims were the nephew and brother respectively of Vice Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo.

Garcia-Yulo is running for mayor against the incumbent, Magdaleno Peña.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said

the President wants to see the real situation in the town and in the whole province.

“Many lives have been wasted and sacrificed because of politics,” Año said.

The town was classified as a category Red area of concern due to the intense political rivalry there.

Duterte also met with Peña and warned him that no violence must erupt in Moises Padilla.

Peña said he told the President: “You’re the boss, done.”

The President also talked with Garcia-Yulo and assured her that justice will be served to their family and to the victims.

He also met with Marijo, wife of Jose Marcelino, and their 12-year-old daughter.

Garcia-Yulo thanked the President for visiting the town and personally attending to their concerns.

Other officials who attended the meeting were Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and top military and police officials in Western Visayas.