Village official ambushed in Ilocos

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – A village official in Sta. Maria town Ilocos Sur was killed after assassins ambushed him minutes before midnight Sunday.

Jovencio Degracia, captain of Barangay Silag in Sta. Maria town immediately died after armed men waylaid him along the highway in Poblacion Sur at around 11:15 p.m. on Easter Sunday.

Ilocos Sur police director Senior Superintendent Eduardo Dupale said they believe the killing was remotely political in nature. Instead, “the motive is revenge because the victim was involved in shooting incidents in the town in the past.”

Dupale claimed that at least 10 towns in Ilocos Sur are being watched for election-related violence taking cues from the incidents in 2004 and 2007 polls. Ilocos Sur has 27 towns.

Degracia is perhaps the first victim of violence in the province after the local campaign started on Feb. 26. – Artemio Dumlao