Arroyo wants ‘zero’ political, media killings

MANILA, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Thursday ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to bring down the number of political and media killings to zero. She gave the order in a speech during the graduation ceremonies of the PNP Academy Kaisang-Bisig Class of 2009 in Cavite province. “We must bring political killings to zero including assassinations of government officials and media personalities," the President told PNPA graduates. She gave the order on the same day slain Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Ramon Aquino was laid to rest in Marikina City. Aquino was shot inside his vehicle last March 11 outside the DPWH compound in Manila. He succumbed to his injuries a week later at the Manila Doctors Hospital. President Arroyo also said she was pleased that the rates for certain crimes such as bank robberies and kidnapping have dropped. In her speech, President Arroyo said she has already ordered PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa to offer police protection to Davao City broadcaster Elgin Damasco and to investigate the text messages threatening his life. Damasco, a news director for Radio Mindanao Network's dxDC station in Davao City, said the messages alleged that he and two others were acting as spokesmen for communist rebels. He said the other two mentioned in the message might have been his co-workers, station manager Dodong Solis and senior anchor Alex Roldan. - GMANews.TV