Caloocan Vice Mayor's aide shot dead

MANILA, Philippines -  An aide of Caloocan Vice Mayor Edgar Erice was gunned down by at least two motorcycle-riding men yesterday morning.

Samuel Delana, 38, who organized meetings for Erice, sustained at least five gunshot wounds, city police chief Senior Superintendent Jude Wilson Santos said. He was hit in the left cheek, jaw, torso and right hand.

Police said the ambush happened at around 10:15 a.m. in Bagong Silang, when Delana was driving a vehicle bearing Erice’s image and slogan. He was accompanied by Nelda Dioquino, 42, parent-teacher association president of the nearby Sto. Niño Elementary School. The two were allegedly on their way to the house of Merlita Torpoles, one of Erice’s political coordinators, when they were attacked.

Chief Inspector Rodrigo Soriano, Station Investigation and Detection Managelent Bureau chief, said the victims were taken to the Dr. Jose Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center in Tala, where Delana was declared dead on arrival. Soriano said Dioquino, whose left shoulder was grazed by a bullet, remains confined at the hospital.

Erice condemned the attack on his political officer and a female supporter.

“We condemn this dastardly act and no matter how they hide it, there is no other motive for the killing of a trusted aide but politics,” Erice said in an interview with The STAR.

Erice said Delana’s death is a big loss to him. “He served me well, going to my office almost all times of the day. He was a very effective leader and has succeeded in winning over supporters and leaders from the other political camps,” Erice described Delana.

Erice declined to name names but said he was sure those behind the killing wanted to derail his bid for the city’s top post in 2013. “This will not stop me, deter me from pursuing my advocacy against corruption and fight for good governance,” he said.

Erice, a member of the Liberal Party, said he has discussed the attack with President Aquino, one of the party’s officials. Aquino has ordered police to set up more checkpoints in the area, according to Erice.

“I appreciate the President’s concern. And I also expect the Philippine National Police to take the lead,” he said.

Erice said he has asked for Santos to be relieved as the city’s police chief due to the spate of killings and robberies that started three months ago.

He added that he will seek a parallel investigation of the ambush by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.