Task force formed to probe Ilocos politician’s ambush

BAGUIO CITY — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has formed a Task Force to probe the shooting of Ilocos Sur opposition leader Nestor Seguismundo in front of his house in Bantay town, Ilocos Sur.

Ilocos Region’s Deputy Regional Director for Operations Superintendent Romeo Espiritu said no other than PNP chief Director General Arturo Lomibao has ordered the formation of the task force.

Lomibao personally visited Seguismundo yesterday morning at the Metro Vigan Cooperative Hospital in Vigan City where he underwent an operation for a single bullet wound in his stomach.

Seguismundo claimed on Sunday in his hospital bed that there is no other possible motive for the attempt on his life except politics, although Ilocos Sur police chief Senior Superintendent Mario Subagan was virtually linked by the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) to the slay attempt.

Subagan, however, denied any involvement in the slay try, although he said he had disagreements with Seguismundo in the past on several issues. He insisted though that Subagan had many enemies. — Artemio Dumlao, Cecille Suerted Felipe