Security escort of Samar congressman shot

Tacloban City — A day after Mayor Anieto Olaje of Tarangnan, Samar was gunned down Saturday night, a security escort of Samar’s first district Rep. Reynaldo Uy was shot by two unidentified armed men yesterday morning in Barangay Hamorawon, a kilometer away from Calbayog City proper.

Police authorities identified the victim as SPO1 Edgar Aniban assigned at the Calbayog police station. He sustained three bullet wounds below his right chest. The suspects, who were described by witnesses as in their 20s and carrying 9mm pistols, reportedly opened fire at the victim who was riding a motorcycle with his wife. They also casually walked away from the crime scene after the incident.

Aniban was immediately brought to the St. Camillus hospital in Calbayog, where he is now in serious condition. Fortunately though, his wife was unhurt.

Uy said he sought the assistance of the PNP and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for a thorough investigation of the case and immediately identify and arrest the suspects to obtain justice for the family and relatives of the victim.

Earlier, the PNP here named two cities and 11 municipalities in the region as "areas of concern" in this year’s elections. These were: Calbayog in Samar, Ormoc City in Leyte and several municipalities in Samar. Meanwhile, Leyte, Eastern Samar and Northern Samar were identified by police director Dionisio Coloma Jr. as potential flashpoint areas in the coming polls.

About three weeks ago, the chief security officer of Gandara, Samar Mayor Juan Aguilar Sr. was also gunned down by four armed men at the public market in Catbalogan, the capital town of Western Samar.

A parish priest in Samar, who refused to be named, yesterday expressed alarm over the shooting incidents in Calbayog, which are believed to be election-related and allegedly perpetrated by an organized armed group believed to be maintained by an influential politician.