SK village chief seeking re-election gunned down

COTABATO CITY – Suspected partisans gunned down a village chief in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, just a day after he publicly announced that he was seeking re-election in the October barangay polls.

Superintendent Suharto Tocao, Sultan Kudarat police director, said the victim, Ronald Corneja, 41, chairman of Barangay Poblacion in Isulan town, and his wife were on their way home on board a motorcycle when the attack happened.

The gunmen, also on board a motorcycle, overtook the Cornejas and opened fire with caliber .45 pistols, hitting the village chief twice in the chest.

Police investigators in Isulan are convinced that the murder of Corneja was politically motivated.

Although the Department of the Interior and Local Government said that the barangay elections are supposed to be non-partisan, barangay officials are known to have ties with local elected officials.   – John Unson