Maguindanao councilor shot dead

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines - Suspected partisans shot dead Friday an incumbent municipal councilor in South Upi town, the second elected official killed in Maguindanao province in two weeks.

The victim, Warlito Pinuela, was attacked while whiling away time at the frontyard of his residence in the municipal center of South Upi, a hinterland town in the second district of Maguindanao.

Pinuela was reelected to a third term during the May 9 elections. His relatives are convinced his murder was politically-motivated.

Pinuela was a retired policeman, who was a member of the municipal police force in nearby North Upi town before he settled in South Upi and joined in local politics.

Residents of South Upi had asked the Maguindanao provincial police office to deploy more policemen in strategic spots in the municipality to prevent any escalation of politically-related hostilities in the area.

Two farmers were shot dead one after another in South Upi’s adjoining Barangays Bongo and Kigan last week in atrocities local officials believe were related still to the May 9 local elections.

Barangay officials said the victims were both campaigners of one of several politicians who aspired for the mayoral seat of South Upi.

The killings came after suspected partisans on May 10 shot with B-40 anti-tank rockets the house of Tito Balinto, chairman of Barangay Kigan in South Upi, killing his aide named Sambren.

Pinuela was killed just two weeks after masked men, armed with M-16 and M-14 assault rifles, killed newly-reelected councilor Hadie Malaguial of Shariff Aguak town also in the second district of Maguindanao.

The suspects, who barged into Malaguial’s house and shot him dead, casually walked away and even scared civilians by setting off shoulder-fire 40 millimeter grenades in the surroundings as they fled.