Samar execs condemn fatal shooting of youth leader

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 10, 2022): Samar execs condemn fatal shooting of youth leader (By Sarwell Meniano and Lizbeth Ann Abella)

VIOLENCE. The crime scene in Osmeña village, Calbayog City in Samar in this Feb. 8, 2022 photo. Officials in Samar province have condemned the recent violent attacks in Calbayog City that killed a Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) official and wounded another youth council member. (Photo courtesy of Calbayog City police office)

Officials in Samar province have condemned the recent violent attack in Calbayog City that killed a Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) official and wounded another youth council member.

Samar 2nd District Rep. Shareen Ann Tan, in a statement issued Wednesday night, said the killing of Gerald Casaljay, 25, should not be considered as another statistic.

“It is difficult enough to lose our young people through drug addiction and other social injustices, but to lose them through senseless killings is beyond reason,” Tan said.

Casaljay, SK councilor of Migara village, Calbayog City, died around 7:30 a.m. on February 8 when a lone gunman shot him twice while he was heading home driving a motorcycle in Osmeña village.

His back rider, Brandel Yrigon, also an SK official, was injured during the attack.

In a statement, Samar 1st district Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento condemned the shooting of Casaljay.

He said the incident came at a time when a “clean, honest, and peaceful electoral process” is expected.

“This pattern of violence and brutality has long passed alarming and must now be treated as a direct attack on our existence and right to live a safe life in our very own land. It is an affront to our right to choose our future with freedom from fear. It is an attack not only on life but to democracy itself,” Sarmiento said.

Earlier, Samar Governor Michael Tan called for justice for the SK official whose “bright future was cut short by a senseless act of violence.”

“I pray that this senseless attack to our SK member is isolated and that the perpetrators will be held accountable. I urge our Philippine National Police to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation and find the culprit to this cowardly act. I strongly urge our communities to be vigilant and reject violence,” the governor said in a statement.

The SK Provincial Federation of Samar also condemned the fatal shooting as they called for the stop of killings and protection of the right to life.

“This incident is a blatant affront to their human rights as well as an act of deprivation of the right to participate in activities vital to his and his society’s growth and development on the basis of ideology, organizational and political affinity,” the group said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1167453