Masbate pol leader killed

LEGAZPI CITY — A leader of an independent candidate for vice mayor in Masbate City was shot and killed during a rally Monday night.

Rommel Floresta, 45, campaign manager of vice mayoral candidate Carol Floresta, died at the Masbate Provincial Hospital where he underwent emergency treatment.

Superintendent Eleizer Bron, Philippine National Police spokeman in Bicol, said the victim was attending a rally in Barangay Poblacion in Masbate City at about 8:45 p.m. when a lone gunman approached Floresta and shot him thrice with a caliber .45 pistol in different parts of the body.

Last Saturday, Maximo Navarro, 51, a kagawad of Barangay Ilaya in Balud town, Masbate was shot dead with a homemade shotgun.

An hour later, a certain Jeffrey Cuyoca, 37, a resident of Barangay San Isidro in Uson town, Masbate was shot in the legs by four gunmen identified as Jerson Alforte, Gilbert Alforte, Celso Legazpi and Dondon Dilao.

Reports said that the victim was a supporter of Barangay Chairman Eddie Crisostomo, who is also affiliated with the political party of Mayor Felipe Sanchez who is running under the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats.

Cuyoca is still being treated at the Masbate Provincial Hospital in Masbate City.

Col. Nur Ascalani, commander of the Army’s 901st Infantry Brigade based in Barangay Villahermosa in Daraga town, Albay, said troops in Masbate have been ordered to arrest any group carrying firearms.

"The deployment of an Army battalion in the island province of Masbate has lessened the number of politically motivated killings," he said.

"Whether New People’s Army (NPA) rebels or civilians hired by politicians, as long as they carry firearms, which is a violation of the Comelec gun ban,we have to deal with them properly."

In Ilocos Sur, a barangay kagawad in Bantay town and his companion were killed and two others wounded when gunmen on a motorcycle fired at them while they were walking along the national highway on Monday morning.

Inspector Arsenio Ramos, Bantay town police chief, identified the casualties as Romeo Del Castillo, 39, councilor of Barangay Capangdanan, and Roberto Pe Benito, 35.

Wounded were Salvador Pira, 65, also a barangay councilor, and Emily Pe Benito, 14, both residents of Capangdanan, he added.

Investigation showed the victims were going to church to attend a funeral mass when the gunmen blocked their way and shot them several times.

Those killed suffered several gunshot wounds in their bodies, while the wounded were injured in the legs.

The gunmen fled in unknown directions, while the victims were taken to the Metro Vigan Cooperative Hospital.

Policemen recovered six empty shells and one deformed slug of a caliber .45 pistol.

Police are investigating whether the shooting was election related or an act of revenge, Ramos said.

In Abra, a kagawad of Barangay Balais Lagangilang town, identified as Alex Llaneza, 42, was shot dead at around 6 a.m. inside the Abra School of Science and Technology (ASIST) campus at Cabasan, Lagangilang yesterday.

Police said Llaneza, a known supporter of Lagangilang mayoral candidate Santiago Labanen died from a bullet wound in the head.

Invesigation showed that the victim went to the ASIST to pasture his cow when he was shot.

Police recovered from the crime scene a magnum caliber .22 revolver with serial no. 311972, six empty shells and two live ammunition from a caliber .45 pistol.

The latest killing in Abra has brought to 132 the total number of election-related violent incidents, five days before the May 14 elections. —with Jun Elias, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Marijoe Yu, Jan Camille Canivel