BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Another village leader in a town in Ilocos Norte became the latest victim of the still unchecked assassinations in the province.
Carlito Malaqui, barangay kagawad of Parang, Sarrat, the next town after Laoag City, Ilocos Norte’s provincial capital, immediately died while his nine-year-old daughter Irish was seriously wounded with a bullet on her knee when assassins waylaid them Friday morning.
Police said assassins opened fire at Malaqui who was then with his daughter and wife Josephine aboard a motorcycle along the highway in Sarrat town.
The village leader’s wife was unhurt, police said.
Probers found at least 13 empty shells of caliber .45 firearm at the crime scene.
In 2009, Malaqui survived another slay try.
Earlier this week, authorities were probing the alleged deployment of private armed groups in at least three eastern towns in Ilocos Norte at the heels of the upcoming May polls.
Ambuscades and killings have not stopped in the province even with the presence of an anti-armed group task force.