Masbate board member shot

LEGAZPI CITY , Philippines  – A provincial board member of Masbate province was shot and wounded last Monday afternoon while alighting from a tricycle a few meters away from his house in Masbate City, police said.

Superintendent Victor Cereña, officer-in-charge of the Masbate police, said third district board member Jesus Chiu, 57, who is running for vice mayor of Uson town, sustained two gunshot wounds.

Cereña said two men shot Chiu at close range with caliber .45 pistols.

Cereña said probers were still determining the motive behind the attack against Chiu who has served as provincial board member for three consecutive terms. 

Political observers though suspect that the shooting was politically motivated.

Masbate is the only province in Bicol now tagged by police and poll officials as an area of immediate concern in the 2010 elections due to its history of electoral violence. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe