Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla. (Photo courtesy of Leyte FB page)
PALO, Leyte – Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla said he is “beefing up” personal security following the recent killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.
“There are changes in our security and that is a natural reaction. There is always a risk, and we can only reduce that risk,” Petilla told reporters on Wednesday.
He said it was a natural reaction for him and other governors to strengthen their security measures following the recent attack on Degamo and at least three other local government officials.
“What happened to him can happen to any elected official. We should always take precautions,” Petilla added as he expressed a sentiment similarly shared by his colleagues in the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) while condemning the attack.
On the morning of March 4, a group of armed men killed Degamo and eight others, including two village officials, and injured 17 others inside the governor’s residential compound in Pamplona town.
“While no amount of words would undo the damage done, we offer them to deplore the attack on the life of Governor Degamo, who has served well his constituents,” the statement earlier issued by LPP.
The League also urged the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct a thorough investigation and to bring to justice those people responsible for this dastardly act.
Degamo’s murder happened less than two weeks after an attempt against the life of Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Alonto-Adiong, Jr., killing four of his security men. (PNA)
