STATEMENT OF LIBERAL PARTY PRESIDENT SENATOR MAR ROXAS
ON THE KILLING OF EDWIN BANDILA

"Once again a son of the Liberal Party has been martyred over our fight for genuine change and reform.

"We are angered and saddened over the killing of Edwin Bandila, a campaign leader of the Party, on the evening of February 11, 2010. Edwin was shot as he was riding a motorcycle with his wife near the cemetery in the town of Carmen, North Cotabato.

"Again and again, the movers in our people's campaign have been killed in cold blood, with little doubt as to the motives behind the killings.

"It is clear that the opponents of honesty and integrity in government will stop at nothing to maintain the status quo of lying, cheating, and stealing. Again and again they have resorted to violence, while the bodies pile up and the victims' families continue to cry for justice.

"These incidents of election-related killings are an attack on democracy and on our very humanity.

"We urge our institutions-particularly the National Bureau of Investigation-to investigate the killing of Mr. Bandila immediately, and to bring the perpetrators to justice swiftly and efficiently.

"We urge the Filipino people to take a stand against a system that allows such savagery to take place.

"The killings must stop. Justice must be served. Ito po ang ipinaglalaban natin."