Samar barangay poll bet killed

MANILA, Philippines — A candidate for barangay chairman in Calbayog, Samar and his father were killed in an ambush on Thursday.

Christopher Braguela, 39; his father Melanio, 62, and Juanito Arneo were riding a motorcycle when they were waylaid in Barangay Catabunan, Oquendo district.

The Braguelas died at the scene. Arneo was unhurt.

Christopher is the third fatality among candidates for barangay chairman in Samar.

Julio Aledanio of Barangay Himamaloto in Calbayog and Jeffry Cajuban of San Francisco, Gandara were gunned down two weeks ago.

Jose Nick Mendros, Commission on Elections (Comelec)-Eastern Visayas director, said they have yet to identify hot spots in the region.

“We still have to finalize our data during our command conference with the police and military on Monday,” Mendros said.

Calbayog Mayor Ronald Aquino said he received reports that unidentified men visited the houses of several barangay captains and threatened them.

In South Cotabato, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said it would release the names of incumbent barangay officials identified as”high-value” drug suspects.

Meanwhile, in Laguna, dismissed police officer Voñino delos Santos, 41, was arrested at a Comelec checkpoint in Barangay Marfranciso, Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro on Thursday for gun ban violation.

Police said Delos Santos failed to produce any document when a gun of unknown caliber was found in the utility box of his motorcycle. – With Ed Amoroso, John Unson