Goons sow terror in Masbate village

MASBATE CITY — A band of 20 heavily armed men sowed terror in a village in Burias Island last Wednesday morning, ransacking the house of the barangay head, killing a tanod and threatening residents, police said.

Senior Superintendent Romeo Mapalo, Masbate police director, the armed men took tanod Regasino Pautan Jr., 36, at gunpoint to lead them to the house of Barangay San Vicente chairman Violito Mahinay. Pautan was later killed.

Mapalo said the group, led by one Eric Ponpon and Pampam Bogero, ransacked the house of Mahinay and then proceeded to the residence of a certain Sarah Cabahug in Sitio Belsat where they threatened residents by firing their guns.

Reports said Pautan and those harassed were supporters of incumbent Claveria Mayor Eduardo Anduesa, the Lakas-CMD (Christian-Muslim Democrats) candidate in the province’s first congressional district.

Anduesa is pitted against Antonio Bravo of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino and Narciso Bravo Jr. of the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

Last April 4, fatigue-wearing men ransacked the house of Constantino Conteñas Jr. in Barangay Canomay in Claveria town, which authorities have declared an "area of concern" in the May 10 polls.

Chief Superintendent Jaime Lasar, Bicol police director, has ordered the local police to go after partisan armed groups being maintained by local politicians. — Celso Amo