TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines – Unidentified men fired shots at the house of a village chief last Saturday and sent death threats to two of his colleagues in what is feared to be part of brewing political tension in Luna town in Isabela.
Superintendent Narciso Paragas, Isabela police spokesman, said motorcycle-riding men attacked the house of Barangay Luyao chief Joseph Ramoran, with the bullets hitting the front door and portions of the rooftop. No one was reported hurt.
Another village chief, Alfredo Agcaoili of Lalug, and Jesusa Villanueva received death threats that same day.
In notes placed in small plastic bags with three M-16 bullets, Agcaoili and Villanueva were warned against joining the campaign sorties of local candidates they were supporting.
The Luna mayorship is hotly contested by the incumbent but suspended Mayor Manuel Tio and board member Jaime Atayde.