Masbate congressional bet ambushed; 3 killed, 2 hurt

LEGAZPI CITY — Three campaign workers were killed and two bystanders were wounded in an assassination attempt early yesterday morning on a congressional candidate in the third district of Masbate, police said.

Senior Superintendent Romeo Mapalo, provincial police director, said congressional bet Rizalina Seachon survived the attack but three of her aides were killed.

Killed were Roy Yanson, Vicente Abarte and a certain Boy Lihay-Lihay, all security escorts of Seachon. Wounded were Cyril Manatad and Boyet Samson.

The victims were all on board their motorcycles when at least four fully armed men ambushed them.

Mapalo said the ambushers failed to hit Seachon, their main target, who was on board a van. Her police security escort, identified as one PO3 Titong, managed to fire back at the assailants.

Seachon’s group was on their way home after attending a fiesta celebration in Barangay Matugnaw in Palanas town when they were attacked.

Mapalo said the ambush was politically motivated and was carried out by private armed groups maintained by certain political figures in the province. He did not elaborate.

Seachon is running against Olga Kho, wife of incumbent Gov. Antonio Kho. Her sister, Portus, the incumbent congresswoman in the third district, is running against Antonio Kho.

Mapalo said he and Mario Espinosa, the presidential assistant for Bicol affairs, will request for additional government troops for the province, if only to avoid further bloodshed on election day.

Although the police have yet to determine the identities of the ambushers and the masterminds of the ambush, Mapalo said combined police and Army troops were dispatched to track down the attackers.

The incident was the first direct ambush on a congressional candidate in Masbate since the start of the official campaign period last March 25.

Harassment of candidates by communist rebels, however, was reported in Catanduanes and Sorsogon.

Violence has increased as the campaign for the May 10 general elections nears the homestretch. Police put the toll earlier this week at 117 dead and 124 wounded since December, when the election season began. —With AFP