| Injured | Killed |
|---|---|
| 0 | 5 |
Date: 28 August 2010
Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20100829-289420/Politics-eyed-behind-ambush-slay-of-5-in-Masbate
LEGAZPI CITY, Albay, Philippines — A local politician said the ambush-killing of five people on Saturday afternoon in a village in San Pascual, Masbate, might have been motivated by politics and done by a private armed group.
A police report identified those killed as Wenceslao Sinagpulo Jr., town councilman; Rolito Aragon, a baptist pastor; Ronnie Orcales; Rael Ponte, driver; and Raffy Francisco–all residents of Barangay Mapanique in San Pascual.
According to Masbate Representative Narciso “Bong” Bravo (1st District, Liberal Party), the victims were all his political allies.
Bravo said in a phone interview Sunday that he had initiated an independent investigation and its results suggested that the carnage was “politically motivated” worked out by his political enemies.
“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the dastardly killing of my political supporters here in San Pascual town,” he said.
Bravo said the ambush-slay was done by private armed group employed by his political rivals determined to bring him down.
In the first district of the province, intense political rivalries are common among the Bravo, Espinosa, Lanete and Seachon clans, on one hand, and the Bunan, Evangelista and Bulanon clans on the other hand. The Bunan, Evangelista and Bulanon clans are close allies of Rep. Antonio Kho of the second district and his wife Olga, the former Masbate governor.
Asked to identify the person he thought was responsible for the killings, Bravo positively identified a political enemy at the barangay level, a former town vice mayor and a mayoral candidate in the May elections.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer is withholding their names, for the meantime, in the interest of fairness, until it is able to get their side on Bravo’s verbal accusations.
Bravo’s three suspects have had ties with Kho who has been known to frequently change his phone numbers.
Bravo said he would bring to the attention of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and Secretary Jesse Robredo of the Department of Interior and Local Government the deteriorating peace and order situation in the province.
“I will also bring this matter up in Congress for a congressional inquiry,” he said.
Mayor Jojo Rivera of San Pascual said Saturday’s killings were the second such occurrence this year.
The first was the ambush-slaying of a village councilman last March.
Rivera said in a phone interview that, “Ambushes initiated by the New People’s Army are a normal incidence here but the attacks on civilians by PAGs have been worrisome.”
He said he was with Sinagpulo in Masbate City to attend two separate events on Saturday–the election of the Provincial Councilors League and the Mayor’s League meeting.
He said that when the victims went back to San Pascual town, Sinagpulo and four others rode in the owner-type jeep owned by Bravo and headed home in Barangay Mapanique.
The police said that while the jeep was negotiating the road in Sitio Landing, Barangay Bolod, San Pascual town at around 2:30 p.m. Saturday, 10 men bearing M16 rifles and .45-caliber hand guns fired at the victims, killing them instantly.
Police recovered empty shells from M16 rifles and .45-caliber pistols and a hand grenade that did not explode underneath the jeep at the crime scene.
Rivera said the bodies of the victims were brought to the town clinic where they were autopsied and then transported to their respective homes.