Injured	Killed
0	1

Date: 26 October 2010
Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20101027-300046/Town-councilor-killed-in-Masbate

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay, Philippines—A town councilor who was part of a group transporting ballot boxes was gunned down Tuesday night by two unidentified men in Balud town, Masbate, a police official said Wednesday.

Ronald Ariola, a Sangguniang Bayan (town council) member of Balud, accompanied by Army Corporal Sonny Mirabel, who was unarmed and in civilian clothes, were following a group of Board of Election Inspectors carrying ballot boxes from Barangay (village) Mapili when attacked by the two gunmen, said Chief Inspector Pelagio Samson, Bicol police spokesman.

Samson said the incident occurred at around 7 p.m. between Barangays Ilaya and Mapili.

Quoting the Balud police, Samson said the gunmen, who were clad in black jackets and armed with M16 rifles, approached Ariola and fired at him at close range.

The victim died on the spot from multiple gunshot wounds.

Mirabel, a friend of the victim, told the police he was unarmed and unable to retaliate.

Probers eyed politics, a land dispute, or personal grudge as probable causes for the killing.

Earlier, three people were killed and another was injured in another poll-related violent incident late Monday afternoon in Cawayan town in Masbate.

Police said two of those killed were brothers of the incumbent village chief. One of their assailants, a known supporter of the village’s chief’s rival in the election, died from hack wounds inflicted by a companion of the brothers.