Nacionalista Party councilor bet killed, 8 wounded in Ilocos ambush

CAMP OSCAR FLORENDO, La Union , Philippines  – A barangay chairwoman in Dingras, Ilocos Norte was killed while eight others, including a provincial board member, were wounded when they were fired upon while on their way home from a Christmas party at around 1:30 a.m. yesterday.

Investigators identified the fatality as Barangay Lanas captain Jo-en Caniete, who was running for town councilor under the Nacionalista Party in next year’s elections.

Caniete died on the spot from multiple bullet wounds from an M-16 assault rifle.

Those wounded were Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Robert Castro; Dingras Sangguniang Bayan member Jimboy Albano; Barangay Guerrero chairman Jeoffrey Saguid, NP mayoral bet who is running against incumbent Mayor Marynette Gamboa; SPO2 Cesar Sabado and Joel Rosqueta, police escort and driver of Castro, respectively; PO1 Joel Natividad, and civilians Fernando Sebastian and Teodoro Naval.

Reports from the public information office here said the four-vehicle convoy of the victims, who had attended a Christmas program in Barangay San Esteban, was blocked by four ski mask-wearing men who peppered the cars with bullets.

Those wounded were rushed to the Dingras District Hospital.

The Philippine National Police yesterday formed a special task force to probe deeper into the ambush.

Ilocos Norte Rep. Roquito Ablan told The STAR that the incident was politically motivated and asked investigators to dig deeper into the case.

“This is politically motivated. Probably the suspects are private armies. The board member (Castro) has no enemies. I would be glad if the area (Dingras) would be placed under the Comelec’s areas of immediate concern,” Ablan said.

He said the residents of Dingras have been urging the national government to look into the alleged private armies of local politicians.

NP standard-bearer Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. condemned the ambush and vowed to end the culture of impunity that has prevailed in the country since the restoration of democracy in 1986.

“We make this particular call in the wake of an ambush perpetrated by assassins on our party candidates in Dingras, Ilocos Norte,” he said.

“The culture of impunity which has enveloped our land, from the Mendiola and Hacienda Luisita massacres to that of the Maguindanao massacre, has emboldened political opponents of the Nacionalista Party in Ilocos to act boldly and commit such a heinous act,” NP spokesman and senatorial candidate Gilbert Remulla said.

He said the NP “vows justice for the victims as we search for swift and comprehensive solutions to end political violence.”

“We also call and challenge all political parties and candidates for the 2010 elections to help in establishing clean, honest and peaceful elections as we move the country forward,” he added. – With Artemio Dumlao, Dennis Carcamo, Mike Frialde and Christina Mendez