3 BSKE bets killed in Cotabato, Davao de Oro

MANILA, Philippines — Three candidates in the Oct. 30 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) were among four persons killed in shootings in Davao de Oro and Cotabato on Monday.

Alvin Garcia, 31, an incumbent barangay councilman running for village chief, was gunned down in Barangay Camantangan in Montevista town.

Garcia and his woman companion were on a motorcycle when he was shot by unidentified men on another motorbike at around 9:40 a.m., Montevista police chief Maj. Gerald Borja said in a report.

The woman, who was wounded, told police Garcia was shot in the head.

Probers are looking at a grudge as the motive for the killing. Police said the victim allegedly had an affair with a married woman.

Garcia was pitted against his aunt.

In Cotabato, police said Nur Butucan and Alfar Ayunan, both candidates for barangay council member in Barangays Kalanganan 2 and Rosary Heights 2, respectively, and Faisal Abas were putting up campaign posters when they were shot.

The three were declared dead on arrival at the Cotabato Regional Medical Center.

Their companions, Saipul Sapalon and Fajeed Daud, were wounded.

The city government suspended classes in four public schools yesterday following the incident.

Col. Querubin Manalang Jr., Cotabato City police chief, said Butucan and Ayunan could be the targets of the attack.

Manalang said 12 suspects, including Juhalidin Abdul, a candidate for barangay chairman of Barangay Rosary Heights, and police M/Sgt. Pauti Mamalapat were among 12 suspects arrested in follow-up operations.

Police said hand-held two-way radios, a caliber .45 pistol, a 9mm and an M16 rifle were confiscated from the suspects.

More cops, soldiers deployed in Leyte, Samar

Meanwhile, joint police and military teams were deployed to Leyte, Villaba and San Isidro towns in Leyte and Calbayog City in Samar yesterday to help secure the BSKE.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) recently declared the areas as immediate areas of concern due to election-related incidents.

Three barangay captains have been killed in gun attacks in Villaba since August.

On Saturday, unidentified men strafed the house of a candidate for SK council member in Barangay Mataloto in Leyte town.

Two weeks earlier, the barangay treasurer was killed while his companion was wounded in a shooting near a hospital in Barangay Cabungahan.

A candidate for SK chairman and his two supporters were unhurt in a shooting in Barangay Poblacion, also in Leyte, on Oct. 21.

In Kalinga, 11 policemen will serve as Board of Election Inspectors in Barangay Mabongtot in Lubuagan amid reports of intense political rivalry.

Capt. Dindo Salming, Lubuagan police chief, said the policemen have undergone seminars on election procedures, including manual voting.

Salming said additional police personnel have been deployed in the town to ensure the safety of teachers and help secure the elections. — Edith Regalado, Miriam Desacada, Jun Elias