Councilor, village chief killed in Rizal

MANILA, Philippines — A town councilor in Quezon and a barangay chairman in Rizal were shot dead yesterday.

Arieo Ilao, 55, councilor of Sariaya town, was at his house in Barangay Sampaloc 2 when two men and a woman, who arrived on a motorcycle, entered.

A witness said he heard gunshots shortly after the suspects talked to Ilao. He said he found Ilao’s bloodied body when the entered the victim’s house after the gunmen fled.

Ilao is a businessman engaged in trucking and quarrying.

In Rizal, Danilo Cacanando, 62, chairman of Barangay Pintong Bukawe in San Mateo, was in a government vehicle on his way home when he was shot in Sitio Upper Inuman, Barangay Inarawan, Antipolo at about 12:40 p.m.

Cacanando suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died at the scene. The gunmen fled toward Sitio Cabading.

Cacanando’s wife is running for barangay captain.

“We have no clear motive yet for the killing.... We would leave no stone unturned in going after the suspects,” Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar, Calabarzon police chief, said.

In Agusan del Sur, Angelito Balili, who is running for barangay chairman in Milagros, Esperanza, was arrested while campaigning in Purok 4.

Balili’s arrest was based on a warrant for robbery.

In Bulacan, local officials and candidates for the barangay and SK polls in Malolos underwent drug tests.

Superintendent Heryl Bruno, city police chief, said the activity aims to ensure transparency and accountability from those seeking elective posts even though candidates are not required to undergo drug tests.   - Efren Lazaro, Ben Serrano, Non Alquitran