Ilocos mayor files charges vs rivals

MANILA, Philippines - She may have lost the elections, but for Mayor Matilde Sales of Ilocos Norte’s Pagudpud town, the fight is not over yet.

This, as the losing re-electionist mayor filed multiple charges against his own brother-in-law, incumbent Vice Mayor Marlon Sales, now the town’s mayor-elect, in connection with the killings of two of her followers in a reported shootout a week before the May 13 polls.

Besides charges of homicide, frustrated homicide and attempted homicide, Mayor Sales also filed a case for violation of the election gun ban, grave coercion and grave threats against her brother-in-law and his running mate, vice mayor-elect Rex Benemerito.

Superintendent Jefrey Gorospe, Ilocos Norte police spokesman, yesterday said the mayor’s complaint filed before the provincial prosecutor’s office the other day also named Steven Rocero, Wilson Laguanza and several John Does as respondents.     – Charlie Lagasca, Teddy Molina