The World Briefly

March 06, 2023

No Limits

Philippines

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Philippine police on Sunday killed one suspect and arrested three others who are implicated in the murder of a provincial governor over the weekend, the latest attack targeting politicians and officials in the Southeast Asian nation in recent weeks, Agence France-Presse reported.

On Saturday, at least six gunmen armed with rifles and wearing military-style uniforms fired at Governor Roel Degamo’s home in the Negros Oriental province, killing the official and eight others. At least 17 others were wounded.

Authorities said that two of the three detained suspects, all now charged with murder, were former soldiers who were dishonorably discharged years ago. Police added that around 10 people were involved in the attack.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. condemned the killing of Degamo – who supported him in last year’s presidential elections – and said the “government will not rest until we have brought the perpetrators of this dastardly and heinous crime to justice,” the Associated Press noted.

Degamo was at least the third politician to be killed in the Philippines since that general election. He had received death threats in the past.

Still, analysts said his killing highlights how rising gun violence in the country has impacted even the powerful.

Last month, gunmen fired at another provincial governor, Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr., wounding him and killing four of his bodyguards.

Rising crime, decades-long extremist Islamist and communist insurgencies, and other security concerns are among the key issues inherited by Marcos, who assumed office in June.

This story originally appeared in the March 06, 2023 newsletter, The Black Sheep and the Family.