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Local authorities in the Philippines have expressed concern for their safety following a series of murders targeting local officials.
On Wednesday afternoon, Al Rashid Mohammad Ali, deputy mayor of a city in the southernmost province of Tawi-Tawi, was killed by gunmen while he was visiting the city of Zamboanga. He was the second vice mayor killed in less than a week. Two mayors were also killed earlier this month.
On July 2, Antonio Halili, a mayor from the suburbs of Manila, was murdered by a so-called elite gunman while he was participating in flogging rites in front of the town hall. Mayor Halili, known for his firm stance on crime by forcing arrested criminals to take part in controversial "shame march" parades around his city, was also on the hit list. Coincidentally, his assassination occurred a few days ago. after Duterte, in a speech, suggested that vice mayors have their mayors killed to "advance their political career".
] A day after the assassination of Halili, Ferdinand Bote, mayor of a town in the northern province of Nueva Ecija, was shot dead by gunmen while he was killed. rode his car
. ed in the same week. On 7 July, a newly elected village captain in Zamboanga town, Michael Magallanes, was killed by an unidentified assailant. On the same day, Alexander Lubigan, deputy mayor of a suburb of Manila, was also murdered.
In a radio interview the next day, Mayor Socorro, Marife Brondial, who heads the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, says that all mayors are "From what is happening now, we can see that the killers Are not afraid, are not afraid of God or respect human life, so it's really scary to be an official, "said Brondial. Seventeen municipal mayors have been killed in the country by police or unknown assailants since Duterte took office two years ago.
Human rights defenders and opposition politicians accuse Duterte of encouraging violence and impunity. the drug, which has left thousands dead.
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