Abra poll violence: 2 shot dead

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet — A candidate for municipal councilor and a bodyguard of a mayoral aspirant were gunned down in separate incidents in Abra last weekend.

Ceferino Callibag, 54, who was running for the municipal council of Danglas town, was shot dead inside the family-owned grocery store at about 7:45 p.m. Sunday.

Eight empty M-16 shells were found at the crime scene, said Senior Superintendent Artemio Hicban, Abra police director.

Callibag sustained bullet wounds in the right arm and back. He was declared dead on arrival at the provincial hospital in Bangued, the capital town.

Before the 2001 elections, he survived a slay attempt.

In Peñarubbia town, Gregorio Castañeda, 44, a bodyguard of mayoral candidate Wilmer Panabang, was slain last Saturday afternoon.

Hicban was shot dead by two motorcycle-riding men in front of Panabang’s house hours after he and Panabang went to Candon City to purchase electrical materials.

Hicban died from five gunshot wounds from caliber .45 pistols.

Police said Hicban was released from the Ilocos Norte provincial jail on March 6, 2002 after serving his sentence for the murder of his mother-in-law.

Last Jan. 22, Abra politicians, led by Gov. Vicente Valera and Rep. Luis Bersamin, signed a covenant for peace, promising to ensure clean, honest, peaceful and orderly elections.