Ilocos mayoral bet killed

MANILA, Philippines - Violence again erupted in Marcos town in Ilocos Norte yesterday when a village chief running for mayor was gunned down.

The killing of barangay chairman Alfredo Arce, an independent candidate, came 20 days after Marcos Mayor Salvador Pillos survived an attempt on his life.

Police said Arce was in the house of the Macatiag family in Barangay Fortuna, where he was the chairman, when men riding in motorcycles fired shots.

Police said Arce, a former policeman, died on the spot while Apoljoy Joaquin, 21, and Karla Jayan Agustin, were hit by stray bullets and rushed to the nearby Sta. Teresita Hospital.

Last Feb. 4, Pillos was shot also by motorcycle-riding men as he was inspecting a construction site in front of the Marcos Agro-industrial School.

Pillos survived the attack with the bullets merely grazing his arm and foot. The gunmen’s motorcycle was found abandoned a few kilometers from where the mayor was fired at.

Pillos is seeking re-election under the Lakas banner, pitted against Arce and businessman Arsenio Agustin of the Nacionalista Party.

Politics has heated up in Marcos town since a raid on Arce’s house last year reportedly yielded firearms and explosive materials.

Ilocos Norte is not among the 15 provinces on the election watch list of the Philippine National Police.

The election hotspots are Abra, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Batangas, Cavite, Masbate, Samar, Misamis Occidental, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, and Basilan. – With Charlie Lagasca, Raymund Catindig, Teddy Molina