2 followers of Laguna gov bet robbed, slain

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna – Four men robbed and killed two barangay coordinators of a gubernatorial candidate in Laguna Wednesday morning, police said.

In Pampanga, meanwhile, a security aide of a re-electionist mayor survived an ambush by motorcycle-riding men in Arayat town Tuesday night. A woman was hit by a stray bullet.

Senior Superintendent Mark Edison Belarma, Region 4-A chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said Cristelo Macorol, 68, and his son, Alfredo, 40, both community coordinators of Laguna Vice Gov. Edwin Olivarez, who is running for governor under the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) party, were busy checking the voters’ list of Barangay Nueva in San Pablo City along with other coordinators when two of the four armed men barged inside their house and announced a holdup.

Belarma said the elder Macorol tried to resist, but was shot in the neck. His son came to his rescue but he, too, was gunned down.

The gunmen took Marocol’s gold rings, gold bracelet and necklace before they escaped with their two cohorts on board a motorcycle.

Though saying that robbery was being eyed in the Marocols’ killing, Belarma said he has formed a special team to determine if politics had anything to do with the incident.

Senior Superintendent Keith Ernald Singian, Pampanga police director, said barangay councilman Senandro Santos, 48, a security escort of re-electionist Arayat Mayor Luis Espino was en route to Mexico town on board a Kia Pride when motorcycle-riding men waylaid him along the Gapan-Olongapo Road.

Santos was unhurt, but a certain Joy Calma, 25, who was passing by the area on board a Ford Lynx, was hit by a stray bullet in the face.

Santos’ car bore four bullet holes, police said.

Singian said probers were determining if the attack was politically motivated.

Earlier, two supporters of re-electionist Pampanga Gov. Mark Lapid were shot and wounded while posting campaign materials in Lubao, hometown of Lapid’s challenger, provincial board member Lilia Pineda. – With Ric Sapnu