Pangasinan mayor’s group shot at; one wounded

SAN NICOLAS, Pangasinan — In what could be an election-related violence, the incumbent mayor of this town and eight others were fired upon by still unidentified men last Wednesday night while campaigning for his son who is running for mayor. One was wounded in the attack.

Police said Mayor Conrado Rodrigo, his wife and seven followers were aboard a Land Cruiser on their way to another barangay for a meeting of his son, Christopher Jones, who is vying for the mayoral post under the banner of the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

The group was unhurt, except for Mario Memoracion, 30, who was hit in the left buttock. The extricated slug was deformed, making it difficult for probers to determine the type of firearm the attackers used.

The attack occurred in Sitio Pastoran, Barangay Fianza, several kilometers from where the miting de avance of Rodrigo’s son was to take place.

Mayor Rodrigo told investigators they heard 20 gunshots. But police probers and elements of the 10th Mobile Group, who responded to the scene, did not find empty shells.

Rodrigo said he suspects that the attack was politically motivated. But police probers were still looking into other possible motives.

Aside from the younger Rodrigo, two others are vying for the mayoral post, namely Angel Zaldivar of Lakas-NUCD, and Juan Ferrer of Kampi.