VP Sara condemns Digos killing, rallies supporters

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Vice President Sara Duterte has condemned the killing of Barangay Tres de Mayo chairman Oscar “Kap Dodong” Bucol Jr., who was shot dead while live on Facebook in Digos City, Davao del Sur on 25 November.

In a statement, Duterte expressed her outrage: “I express my deepest anger and sorrow over the killing of Barangay Captain Oscar Bucol Jr., or Kap Dodong. He was merely exercising his right to speak freely on issues of corruption and politics, yet he was silenced with guns and bullets.”

Bucol was reportedly talking to a man inside his home who had returned a lost ID card when gunshots were fired. Video footage showed him bleeding and calling for help. He was rushed to a hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. Duterte extended condolences to the victim’s family, colleagues and community, adding: “In honoring his memory, we reaffirm our commitment to protecting the rights and freedoms that allow everyone to speak, question, and participate without fear.”

Authorities are investigating the motive and identifying the perpetrators. Bucol was known for criticizing local officials on social media over political and criminal issues.

Meanwhile, Duterte’s political allies have rallied behind her readiness to assume the presidency if President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. steps down. The defunct Marcos-Sara Duterte Alliance (MASADA) has been reactivated under the name Mayor Sara Duterte Alliance, according to convenor Benito Ranque. He and over 100 supporters recently held a “meet and greet” with the Vice President to express full support for her constitutional mandate.

“MASADA is back in action, supporting its original political objective for President Sara,” Ranque said. “We have achieved our objective. Mayor Sara heeded the call of the people to join the 2022 elections for the continuity of gains attained by her father, President Duterte.”

Originally, the alliance encouraged Duterte to run for president in 2022. Later, MASADA campaigned to unite the so-called Solid North and Solid South behind the Marcos-Duterte tandem. Despite its earlier influence, MASADA faded after Marcos’ victory in the 2022 elections.