Local LP leader gunned down in Abra

BANGUED, Abra, Philippines – A local leader of the Liberal Party (LP) in Dolores town this province was gunned down Saturday, and one of his four attackers was collared in a pursuit operation.

Chief Superintendent Benjamin Magalong, Cordillera police director, said investigators were still trying to check if an old grudge motivated the killing of 32-year-old Tirso Talledo, although there were strong indications that intense political rivalry in Dolores town had something to do with the attack.

Talledo, a leader of Dolores mayoral bet David Guzman of LP, was stopped on his way home along the Cabaroan-Libtec Road and shot at close range by four men, police said.

Investigators found 12 cartridges for .45 caliber and seven for 9-mm at the crime scene.

Police later arrested one of Talledo’s four attackers who yielded a .45-caliber pistol, and seized the two motorcycles used in the killing.

“We just received information that one of the suspects tried to kill the local LP leader in 2010 but failed,” said Magalong, who begged off from identifying the suspect.

Magalong said he has ordered Abra police director Benjamin Lusad to ascertain the motive behind the killing, although he said evidence “indicates it is related to politics.”