Raps filed vs councilman in Masbate vice mayoral bet’s slay

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – A barangay kagawad was charged yesterday before the Masbate provincial prosecutor’s office for the murder of vice mayoral candidate and Association of Barangay Captains official Isagani Lopangco last Sunday.

Noli Puti, councilman of Barangay Mandali and his male companion, who has not been identified, were charged with murder.

Senior Superintendent Renato Bataller, Bicol police spokesman, said the complaint was based on Lopangco’s dying declaration at the Mobo District Hospital.

Police have also released the artist’s sketch of the suspects in the murder of Balud town Councilor Ladislao Macuba.

Bataller said investigators are gathering information that may lead to the identification of the suspects.

Macuba was gunned down while watching a cockfight in Barangay San Andres Sunday afternoon.

Comelec control

Amid the killings, the members of the Masbate Advocates for Peace (MAP) yesterday asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday to place the province under its control.

Egmidio Campusano, MAP president, said the province should be placed under Comelec control before the situation further deteriorates.

Campusano also sought the creation of a joint police-military task force to ensure the holding of peaceful and honest elections in the province.

As this developed, the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) expressed alarm over the killings in Masbate and called on concerned government agencies to stop what it described as “senseless killings.” 

“We at the NPC value the life not only of our members but of every human being above all else, therefore every life lost or untimely taken just because of political reasons and rivalries is totally reprehensible and unacceptable,” NPC secretary-general Leandro Mendoza said in a statement. 

Mendoza said the killings were obviously politically motivated, noting that the victims were supporters of Gov. Rizalina Lanete, an NPC stalwart. 

“This is disappointing to say the least in as much as Gov. Lanete is losing supporters because of fear,” he said. – With Celso Amo, Delon Porcalla