Supporters of Isabela mayoral bets clash

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya , Philippines  – A campaign supporter of a mayoralty bet in Isabela’s Santiago City was killed in an alleged shoot out with followers of a rival camp before midnight Sunday.

Likewise, two others, one of them a supporter of re-electionist Mayor Amelita Navarro, reportedly sustained gunshot wounds in the fire fight, which led to the death of one Allan Castañeto, a follower of Navarro’s rival, former vice mayor Armando Tan.

A source from the Tan camp, however, denied that any shoot out took place, claiming that their supporters, on board a party vehicle, were actually ambushed by a group of armed men while on their way to their headquarters in the city’s Barangay Buenavista.

Castañeto, 32, was hit on the chest and pronounced dead on arrival at the city’s Southern Isabela General Hospital where he was rushed to after the incident, which took place in Barangay Sagana about 11:30 p.m. Sunday. 

The wounded victims were identified as Jose Mari Galapon, 17, also a Tan supporter; and Villamor Laguep, 47; identified with the Navarro camp. The two were still undergoing treatment in another hospital.  

Reports hinted that the fight broke loose after the avid Navarro followers engaged Tan’s diehards in a heated altercation over the latter’s alleged hauling of residents to a common place on the eve of the election.

Chief Inspector Charlie Angyaon, chief of the city police’s Precinct I, in a radio report, said that a concerned caller reported the ongoing incident to them, enabling them to respond immediately.

It was learned that gunfire was still raging when responding police operatives arrived at the encounter site.