Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday condemned the killing of fellow Akbayan Party member Richard 'Butch' Cabilan in Zamboanga del Sur.
"I strongly condemn the brutal killing of fellow Akbayan Party member Richard 'Butch' Cabilan, the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer of Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur," Hontiveros said in a Facebook post.
"As a civil servant, it is very alarming that this gruesome attack happened inside the compound of a government-owned facility," she added.
Cabilan, who was a former Division Secretary General of Akbayan Zamboanga del Sur, was attending a meeting at the Agriculture Training Center when he was shot and killed by three unidentified gunmen.
Hontiveros called on the Philippine National Police to immediately act and solve what she said was another act of "political killing".
"I am calling on PNP Chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin to immediately investigate this political killing, and appeal for greater efforts from the state to protect our civil servants and all our citizens," she said.
"We must prevail against these evil acts that endanger our safety and our democracy," she added.
Butch's death is a huge loss for Zamboanga del Sur as he is widely recognized for his fight against poverty, inequality, and injustice, said Hontiveros.
"I offer my deepest condolences to Butch's family and friends at this difficult time. No family should ever experience a tragedy like this."
"Give justice to the Cabilan family! Stop political violence in Zamboanga del Sur!" Hontiveros added.
