OWING TO UNSOLVED DEATHS

LINGAYEN—Fearing for their lives and security while the Duterte administration is pursuing its war on drugs, barangay kapitans in the province are now seeking the provincial government and the police to give them the privilege to arm themselves so they can protect themselves

This was manifested by Liga ng mga Barangay Provincial Federation president and Board Member Jinky Zaplan in an interview with The PUNCH.

She who noted that from December 2016 to mid-January in 2017 alone, three barangay chairmen and three councilmen were already killed, all by unidentified gunmen whose cases have not been solved.

These deaths have prompted the Liga to seek permission to arm themselves.

She said records show there were more barangay captains and kagawads who were killed and arrested from July to November last year than at anytime in the past.

The latest victim was barangay chairman slain Rolando Seguban Mejia, 59, of Calaocan in San Nicolas who was gunned down by unidentified suspects.

Zaplan, however, said reports she gathered revealed that politics and not illegal drugs, was established as the motive behind the slaying of Mejia.

She also said not all barangay officials were killed due to illegal drugs as in the case of Mejia but she admitted that some barangay captains, particularly from Bayambang town, who were also arrested being high-value targets for illegal drugs, and are still in jail.

In September last year, a barangay kapitan was killed in San Carlos City when he traded shots with policemen who were serving a search warrant in his house in connection with his alleged involvement in illegal drugs and gun-for hire activities.

Another barangay chairman and his companion, both allegedly into drugs, were ambushed by unidentified gunmen in Urdaneta while the Liga ng mga Barangay chair in Alaminos City was gunned down and killed. Both incidents happened last year.

In Sta. Barbara, a barangay captain, his brother, son and brother-in-law were killed while on board a tricycle on their way home from Calasiao.

Zaplan said these killings have alarmed many of her fellow barangay officials.

She said she will convey the Liga members’ request to arm themselves to OIC-Police Provincial Director Ronald Oliver Lee when he speaks before the Liga this month.

Zaplan said she will also ask Lee for specific guidelines under the situation.

Barangay chairmen in Pangasinan were issued shotguns by the provincial government sometime in 2007 but these were collected by the police stations  before 2013 election for safekeeping. These were never returned by the police.

The double-barrel shotguns were issued by the Espino administration as protection from trouble-makers, including ‘akyat-bahay’ thieves and cattle rustlers.

Zaplan said she will ask Gov. Amado Espino III to issue firearms to the barangay chairmen again for their and their constituents’ protection.

She, however, merely chuckled when a newsman remarked that the request may no longer be necessary since most barangay chairmen in the country are already keeping firearms, licensed or unlicensed.

Meanwhile, Zaplan said some barangays, not many, have already complied with her provincial board resolution asking barangay officials to undergo drug testing. (Leonardo Micua)

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