Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 6) – The police confirmed two different ambush killings of barangay election candidates in Cebu and Bohol.
The police have identified two motorcycle-riding suspects in the killing of a barangay chief candidate in Balamban, Cebu City, who was gunned down along Barangay Prenza late Thursday.
The victim, 60, was also an incumbent barangay councilor of Cansomoroy.
According to Balamban Police Chief, Lt. Glenn Hife, the Cebu victim came from his house past 5 p.m. before the incident happened.
He was riding his motorcycle when suspects were believed to be tailing him. Witnesses said they heard only one gunshot during the incident.
Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare said the suspects were identified via witnesses and CCTV footage.
“This is a serious matter for us because this is a murder incident and the victim is a candidate so surely amo ni i-consider [that we will consider] in our adjustments in the security deployment,” said Pelare.
Authorities however are still verifying an election-related angle in the killing. It said that they are also looking for other angles.
The 60-year-old councilor sustained a gunshot wound on the head. He was immediately brought to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
The police chief added that the suspects may have fled to the interior portion of Balamban which is located some 50 kilometers west of Cebu City.
Upon initial investigation, the family told the police that the councilor did not receive death threats prior to the incident.
Pelare said they have adjusted the security deployment for Balamban following the ambush incident.
Meanwhile in Bohol Province, Pelare also confirmed another ambush incident, this time, in Buenavista town around 12 midnight of Friday.
Witnesses identified the fatality as town councilor.
Cebu-based journalist Dale Israel contributed to this report.
