Unity walk for peaceful village polls held in Isabela

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya , Philippines   â€“ Following the killings of two village chiefs in Isabela, a police-led “unity walk” for the peaceful conduct of barangay polls was held in the province last Saturday, coinciding with the start of the election gun ban.

The pre-dawn unity walk, participated in by local officials, religious leaders, students and the military, started at the provincial police office in Ilagan City and ended with a prayer rally at the city’s sports complex.

“We want to show that we abhor violence and that lawless elements have no place here… that every sector in the province wants to have secure and fair elections,” said Senior Superintendent Sotero Ramos Jr., Isabela police director.

To further ensure violence-free polls on Oct. 28, Sotero said they have intensified police checkpoints since Friday.

Last Sept. 24, or five days before the start of the election gun ban, Rosendo Segismundo, 52, chairman of Barangay Anonang in San Guillermo town, was shot dead by still unidentified assailants in Angadanan town.

Segismundo, 52, was with his sister-in-law onboard a rented motorcycle to deliver bananas in adjoining Alicia town when the pre-dawn killing took place.

This came barely three weeks after Arnold Pastor, 47, chairman of Barangay Loria, also in Angadanan, was gunned down last Sept. 4. His wife, Leilanie, 45, who was with him onboard their Toyota Hilux, was also killed. 

Pastor was also an ex-officio member of the municipal council, being the town’s Liga ng mga Barangay president.

The twin killings prompted the provincial police to relieve Chief Inspector Salvador Mangulab as Angadanan police chief hours after Segismundo’s slay. 

“We are still establishing whether these killings have something to do with the forthcoming elections or merely personal motives,” Ramos said. 

Ramos said they are still assessing if there are areas of concern or election hotspots in the province.