Alioden Dalaig, 63

When I heard the news about the killing of Atty. Alioden D. Dalaig of the Commission on Elections last Saturday, my first reaction was revulsion at how killers in the Philippines continue to be so brazen.

More than 800 activists and journalists have been killed since the start of the Arroyo administration in 2001. The killers have also targeted lawyers and judges–and now, even civil servants like Dalaig. As long as the culture of impunity remains, this series of violence will most likely not be broken.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) – Cite This Source – Share This im·pu·ni·ty <a href=”http://dictionary.reference.com/audio.html/lunaWAV/I00/I0089800″ target=”_blank”><img src=”http://cache.lexico.com/g/d/speaker.gif” border=”0″ /></a> Audio Help /ɪmˈpyunɪti/ Pronunciation Key – Show Spelled Pronunciation[im-pyoo-ni-tee] Pronunciation Key – Show IPA Pronunciation

–noun

1.	exemption from punishment.

2.	immunity from detrimental effects, as of an action.

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[Origin: 1525–35; < L impÅ«nitās, equiv. to im- im-² + pÅ«nitās punishment (pÅ«n- (s. of punÄ«re to punish) + -itās -ity); see punitive]

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez wrote a personal tribute for Dalaig on his blog. Here’s an excerpt:

He was one of the last of his breed – a COMELEC warrior who dealt with politicians fiercely and firmly, had only snarling patience for those who gratuitously bad-mouthed the COMELEC and its personnel, but who was gentler than strangers imagined, and who was every COMELEC employee’s friend.

Jun Macarambon, son of newly appointed Comelec Comissioner Moslemen Macarambon, said the “news is kinda scary“. They learned of Dalaig’s killing while celebrating his father’s appointment.