P200,000 reward for arrest of ambush perpetrators

VIGAN CITY — Governor Deogracias Victor Savellano yesterday offered a P200,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators of Monday’s ambuscade of a former board member and radioman.

Efren Rafanan who was Savellano’s losing opponent in the 2001 polls survived the ambush but his wife, driver, brother and security aide identified as Angelo de Ocampo (not Edwin de Ocampo as earlier reported) died instantly.

Fresh reports said that Rafanan’s son Raffy Brian or ‘Bongbong’ who was hit in the head also died in a La Union hospital where he was taken. This developed as Ilocos Sur politicians separately condemned Rafanan’s ambuscade.

In condemning the incident, first district Rep. Salacnib Baterina warned that Vigan’s tourism industry would suffer. He said that another shooting incident transpired in Vigan at 2 a.m., a few hours before Rafanan’s ambush last Monday.

"I urge the task force to solve the case expeditiously," Baterina yesterday said in an interview with The STAR.

He was referring to the Task Force Rafanan which he had earlier requested Region I PNP Commander Chief Supt. Arturo Lomibao to organize.

Second district Rep. Eric Singson also called in his condemnation of the incident saying violence should now be a thing of the past in Ilocos Sur.

The province used to be rocked by political violence in the late 60s to the 70s.

Savellano and former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson also condemned the ambuscade.

Singson had earlier brushed aside the Rafanan camp‘s insinuations that he had a hand in the incident saying Rafanan had other political enemies who may be interested in eliminating him."