Abra mayor bet survives ambush; 2 supporters wounded

MANILA, Philippines - A mayoral candidate in Abra survived an ambush yesterday, but two of his supporters were wounded.

Chief Superintendent Villamor Bumanlag, Cordillera police director, said Ryan Luna, who is running for mayor in Bangued, the capital town of Abra, was unharmed.

His two supporters, identified as Romy Mangaoang, 44, and Rolly Barbieto, 29, were rushed to the Abra Provincial Hospital.

Luna is a son of Abra Rep. Cecille Luna, who is seeking her second term in the May polls.

The younger Luna and his supporters had just finished campaigning in Barangay Sapaak and were on their way back to Bangued when their four-vehicle convoy was fired upon along the barangay road in Malamsit Biñarobya at around 2:20 p.m. yesterday.

Police responded to the incident but the attackers had long been gone. Men of Task Force Abra and scene-of-the-crime operatives have gathered empty shells and other evidence at the crime scene.