Bayan Muna coordinator killed in Iloilo

ILOILO CITY , Philippines —  A coordinator of Bayan Muna in this city was killed in a gun attack in Arevalo district yesterday.

Jose Reynaldo Porquia was shot by four unidenfied men in Barangay Sto. Niño Norte, S/Sgt. Jessie Genterola of the Arevalo police said.

Genterola said Porquia suffered nine gunshot wounds and died at the scene.

A villager claimed that he heard gunshots after one of the suspects pulled him aside.

Poquia’s neighbors said they saw four men fleeing on two scooters.

Genterola said the victim, a resident of Barangay Quintin Salas, Jaro district, rented a place in Barangay Sto. Niño Norte because he planned to put up a restaurant for the Paraw Regatta Festival.

Siegfred Deduro, Bayan Muna vice president for the Visayas, condemned Porquia’s “traitorous murder.”

“This is part of the impunity in political killings aimed at terrorizing activists critical of Duterte’s administration,” Deduro said.

He said police prevented Porquia from  leading relief operations and an education campaign on on the coronavirus disease 2019 to poor communities in the city. – Emmanuel Tupas