Town official slain in Davao

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Xinhua) - Gunmen on motorbikes shot and killed an elected town official in Davao Oriental yesterday, police confirmed today.

Davao Oriental police chief Superintendent Jose Carumba said Romie Almacin, elected councilor of Governor Generoso town in Davao Oriental, was on his way to his farm aboard a motorcycle when he was attacked by four assailants in Tibanban village past 8 p.m. on Sunday.

Carumba said Almacin, who emerged as the top elected councilman in the coastal town, succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds in the back and neck. Witnesses saw four people aboard two motorcycles speeding away after the shooting.

The attack happened just less than a week after the Philippines held its mid-term elections.

More than 50 election-related deaths have been recorded by police since the start of the election period in January.