Masbate gubernatorial bet survives slay try

LEGAZPI CITY — Masbate Rep. Fausto Seachon Jr., who is now running for governor, was ambushed by still unidentified men on Sunday night in Barangay San Vicente in Cawayan town, police reported yesterday.

Seachon survived the attack but one of his supporters, Rene Dao, 40, a candidate for municipal councilor in Uson town, was killed while four others were wounded.

Felicisimo Fernan, 51; Antonio Lim, 38; Julius Ballesteros, 26, a candidate for municipal councilor; and Lino Lim, 40, incumbent councilor, all of Uson town, were reportedly in serious condition and are now confined at the Cawayan District Hospital.

Chief Superintendent Jaime Lasar, Bicol police director, said that Seachon’s party was enroute to Cawayan town for a campaign sortie in the poblacion when about 10 heavily armed men peppered the moving convoy with gunfire.

Senior Superintendent Romeo Mapalo, Masbate police director, said that about 30 spent shells from M-16 and M-14 rifles and other high-powered firearms were recovered in the area.

"I already instructed my men in Masbate, including those from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to conduct a thorough investigation and launch hot pursuit operations against the suspects," Lasar told The STAR, admitting that they still have a very sketchy report regarding the incident.

Lasar had earlier said that he had recommended to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that Masbate province be placed under its control to prevent untoward incidents as the election nears.

Records here showed that the ambush was the second direct attack against a candidate in Masbate, and the 13th election-related violence in the Bicol region.

Seachon believes that the failed assassination was politically motivated but did not give any detail or hint on who might be behind the attack.

The congressman is running against incumbent Gov. Antonio Kho of the Lakas-CMD (Christian-Muslim Democrats).

Last April 16, his sister, Rizalina, who is running for congresswoman in the third district, also survived a slay attempt in Barangay Nabangig in Palanas town but three of her security escorts were killed while two others were wounded.

Rizalina is running against Kho’s wife, Olga, and brother, Ernesto.