MANILA, Philippines - A political leader of a congressional candidate in Leyte was gunned down on Thursday afternoon.
Chan Delantar, 57, was distributing campaign materials in Sitio Patong in Barangay Consuegra when unidentified men shot him.
Delantar was campaigning for former Court of Appeals justice Ching Veloso, who is running for congressman in the third district.
Veloso is running against Leyte Mayor Ma. Victoria Salvacion David, daughter of Rep. Andy Salvacion, who is running for mayor.
Senior Superintendent Franco Simborio, Leyte police director, said they are investigating if the killing was politically motivated.
Simborio said they are not ruling out the involvement of New People’s Army rebels.
“The manner of killing seemed to be that of the communist rebels,” he said.
Meanwhile, 174 police officers were deployed to the towns of Leyte, Albuera, San Isidro and Calubian, which have been declared election watchlist areas.