Slain Misamis town dad’s widow seeks justice

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – The widow of a slain town councilor of Misamis Oriental is seeking justice for the death of her husband, who was killed by motorcycle-riding gunmen Thursday.

Cecilio Abuhan, councilor of Opol town, was on his motorcycle when gunmen waylaid him in Barangay Bagocboc.

Margilen Abuhan, chairman of Barangay Bagocboc, said she could not confirm if the killing was perpetrated by the New People’s Army (NPA).

Earlier, police said they received information that the councilor was among the targets of a liquidation squad of the NPA.

Margilen said her husband has been in politics since 1994 and was serving his second term as municipal councilor.

She said there is no mining activity in the town, which is one of the motives being looked into in the investigation.

Opol police chief Senior Inspector Alwin Baclao said the investigation is focusing on the motive for the killing to identify the gunmen.

In a report, Baclao said the ambush occurred in Sitio Inayao, some two kilometers from the town proper. He said Abuhan, 49, died at the scene from four gunshot wounds in the head, neck and chest.