TACLOBAN CITY – The number of unsolved killings in this city and the province as a whole has alarmed Gov. Carlos Jericho “Icot” Petilla.

In a recent media forum, Petilla told Leyte media that he is now alarmed about these killings, as this is not a nice image for Leyte which is being coming a center for tourism activity in eastern Visayas region.

“Yes, I am alarmed on these killings, give me time to discuss this issue,” Petilla said.

However, the governor did not further explain what he is going to do with this problem or this might cause alarm to prospective investors to the province.

Police records shows that the latest killing incident just occurred last week where a certain Gilboy Cinco, a prominent businessman in Alang-alang, Leyte was attacked by still unidentified persons.

According to the Alang-alang police, Cinco had just bought cattle to be slaughtered in Brgy. Lukay when four unidentified suspects on board a single motorcycle fired at him with four bullets hitting in different parts of his body.

Prior to Cinco’s killing, a man identified as Alejo Libanan, who was reportedly a former member of the military, was gunned down by unidentified gunmen in front of Divine Word hospital.

The lone gunmen fled on board a single motorcycle.

In early August, another prominent Chinese businessman in the province was wounded when he was shot by still unidentified gunman while having a drinking spree at a night spot along Juan Luna Street, this city.

Richard Ang sustained a gunshot wound below his chest, but ha been spared from death by doctors in a private hospital in Metro Manila.

This shooting incident was followed just one moth after when Sammy Bandilla, the regional coordinator of Anak Pawis, was gunned down by still unidentified armed men on board a single motorcycle.

But police officials and city mayor Bejo Romualdez dismissed speculations that Tacloban City is no longer safe to both residents and visitors alike.

Romualdez opined that those killings incidents are just isolated case and normal for a growing city population and being the center of commerce in the region.

“I will not buy the reports,” adding that Tacloban or the province of Leyte as a whole still beautiful and nice place to visit for tourists.

Police Supt. Arnulfo Cruz, city police chief, said that some of the incidents were beyond their control.

He explained that he is utilizing or implementing a maximum security or deployment of police troops to all crowded areas.

“Well, sometimes I admit that we are lacking police personnel to follow that 90 percent of the entire force of the PNP in every police unit should be developed at the filed to prevent street crimes,” Cruz said.