Senior Superintendent Nelson Nario, provincial police director, identified the victim as Bonjing Cabua, councilman of Barangay San Vicente and one of the campaign managers of provincial board member Jay Diaz, who is running for vice mayor of this capital town under the Nationalist People’s Coalition.
Diaz is the running mate of re-electionist Mayor Delfinito Albano, younger brother of Energy Regulatory Commission chairman Rodolfo Albano Jr.
Nario said Cabua went out of Diaz’s house when he heard the first volley of gunfire and was hit. Doctors at the Faustino Dy Memorial Hospital declared Cabua out of danger.
Police found several M-16 and calibers .45 and .357 slugs at the site.
Diaz told The STAR that he had received death threats a few days before the strafing which he believes was politically motivated. "I know who are the people behind the incident," he said.
Police earlier declared Ilagan one of the nine election "hot spots" in the province.