BANGUED, Abra – An ally of Gov. Vicente Valera was shot dead by unidentified armed men believed to be hired killers at Zone 6 yesterday afternoon.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) stopped the canvassing of votes here Friday night for unknown reasons.
According to Senior Superintendent Alex Pumecha, police director here, Francis Acena was killed on the spot after gunmen shot him at close range in broad daylight along the corner of Washington and M.H. del Pilar streets here, despite the presence of a battalion of soldiers and Special Forces of the Philippine National Police in the province.
Police said the victim was then going home at Washington and M.H. del Pilar streets when gunmen shot him at close range.
As usual, police suspect that the killing of Acena was politically motivated.
Meanwhile, the Comelec in Manila suddenly stopped the canvassing of votes, newsmen learned yesterday.
The incident did not only raised suspicion of dagdag, bawas (vote shaving and padding) scheme but also added to the tension on the province wracked by violence and intimidation.