BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Police Regional Office 6 yesterday ordered a comprehensive and thorough investigation into the killing of a teacher on the eve of May 9 elections in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.
This also developed as the Department of Education strongly condemned the killing of Mercy Miguel, who was about to serve as Electoral Board Support Staff.
Initial police investigations show that Miguel and her husband, Aldrin, were on board a motorcycle, when they shot by unidentified suspects who were hiding in a grassy portion of Crossing Calasa in Brgy. Caradio-an, Himamaylan City.
Miguel, who was hit in the abdomen, was declared dead on arrival at the Himamaylan District Hospital, according to the police.
They were shot while removing big stones blocking on their way. However, the husband of the victim was reportedly unhurt.
In a statement, DepEd said that they denounced any acts of violence and injustice towards the teacher, although it is unclear yet if such brutality was election related.
We call on the local authorities on Negros Occidental to deliver swift justice for such heinous crime, DepEd said. It reiterated its call to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and National Police to protect teachers, poll workers and voters.
Violence is not and should not be part of democracy, it added.
Dongbo said that he already ordered PCol. Leo Pamittan, provincial police director of Negros Occidental, to exert their best effort in identifying and arresting the suspects involved in the death of the teacher.
PLt. Col. Reynante Jomocan, Himamaylan City police chief, raised the possibility that it was a case of “mistaken identity,” stressing that the husband of the victim may have been also killed, if they were indeed the targets.*
