The camps of Silay Mayor Joedith Gallego and his opponent former mayor Mark Golez condemned the killing of two persons and the wounding of seven others in Barangay Mambulac, Silay City.
Assistance to the victims was also promised by both camps.
Gallego and Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, an ally of Golez, both promised to assist to the victims.
The Silay City government will extend all necessary assistance — medical, legal, and psychological — to aid those affected, Gallego said.
Benitez said they condemn the incident and have asked the police to swiftly act on the matter.
“We are exerting all efforts to see how we can assist,” Benitez said.
“Violence has no place in our community — especially when used to silence those who seek truth, fairness, and accountability,” Gallego said in a statement.
The incident “left members of our community — volunteers who courageously stood as watchdogs against vote-buying —killed, wounded and traumatized”, he said.
Gallego said he directed the local police force to fully cooperate with national authorities and expedite the investigation.
“We will leave no stone unturned until the perpetrators are brought to justice. To those responsible: the law will catch up with you, and the people will not forget,” he added.
Team Asenso Silay led by Golez also condemned the shooting incident.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to the families of the victims,” the statement sent by Jose Edward Davila, legal counsel of Team Asenso Silay, said.
“Violence has no place in a democratic process where the will of the people must prevail — not fear, intimidation, or brute force. “ he said.
It must be emphasized that this tragic incident did not happen in a vacuum, Davila said.
On Sunday multiple supporters of Team Asenso Silay reported harassment by individuals identified as supporters of the incumbent mayor in Barangay Guinhalaran, including attempted forcible seizure of personal belongings, he said.
Alarming reports were also made to the authorities about a white van with no conduction sticker and covered license plates, which was spotted in both Guinhalaran and Barangay 2, Silay City, where another tension-filled incident occurred Sunday night, he added.
Davila said he personally responded to the latter to help de-escalate the situation, which involved attempts by the incumbent’s personnel to enter private property—again involving the same suspicious white van.
He said on Monday the same white van was seen in Barangay Mambulac, at the very location of the shooting, accompanied by armed men in bonnets.
Multiple eyewitnesses reported the presence of these individuals prior to the incident, yet no immediate action was taken by the PNP despite these red flags, Davila said.
The police responded only after gunshots were fired, he said.
“We call on the PNP, the Commission on Elections, and all relevant authorities to impartially and immediately investigate not just the shooting itself, but the series of clear and reported incidents that preceded it. The lives lost demand justice,” Davila said.*