NO stone will be left unturned.
This was the vow made by Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna on the efforts to put to justice those behind the assassination of Leninsky Bacud, former barangay chairman of Barangay 435, Zone 44 in Sampaloc and Second Nominee of the Ang Bumbero ng Pilipinas (ABP) Party-list.
Lacuna condemned the incident in strongest terms as she called on all Manileños to remain vigilant, report suspicious activities and cooperate with authorities and show that Manila stands united against violence and will always uphold peace, justice and the rule of law.
“My deepest condolences go to Chairman Bacud’s grieving family. The City of Manila stands with those who have served our people. I assure the Bacud family and all Manileños that we will do everything in our power to bring all those responsible to justice. They will answer for the violent death of Leninsky Bacud. Hindi natin papayagang mamayani ang takot at karahasan sa ating lungsod. Maninindigan tayo para sa katarungan at kaayusan sa Lungsod ng Maynila,” Lacuna said in a statement.
She also directed Manila Police District Director PBGen Benigno Guzman to mobilize all available resources and lead a thorough, impartial and relentless investigation into the said case and ensure that every angle is pursued.
The thorough investigation must yield results that would lead to the eventual identification, arrest, and prosecution of all perpetrators, including the mastermind, financier and co-conspirators, Lacuna added.
Lacuna requested the MPD to ensure that the family of Bacud will have guaranteed safety, along with possible witnesses, all throughout the investigation and prosecution process.
“Violence must have no place in a civil society. This assassination does not represent who Manileños are, nor does it define the City of Manila,” she stressed.
It was learned that the mayor also asked DILG Manila City Director John Visca and the Manila Peace and Order Council to immediately issue a memorandum to all barangays, reiterating the urgent need for the strict maintenance of peace and order especially during this election season and ensure that all barangay CCTVs, response equipment and communication devices are fully operational and manned 24/7 by trained personnel.
Relatedly, barangays have also been directed to intensify the regular patrolling and visibility of tanods and peacekeeping teams, especially in areas identified as election hotspots; to convene emergency meetings with barangay officials to review and strengthen community alert systems and preventive measures against violence and coordinate closely with the Manila Police District and other law enforcement agencies to monitor and respond swiftly to any threats or incidents that may compromise public safety.
