Board member bet, governor's volunteers shot dead

MANILA, Philippines — Less than a week after certificates of candidacies for the 2019 elections were filed, a candidate for board member and two volunteers of a governor seeking reelection were gunned down.

Susan Montawal, who is running for board member of Maguindanao, and her grandson Harris were in a van when they were shot near a public market in Kabacan.

The victims suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died at the scene. 

Two bystanders were hit by stray bullets and remain confined in a hospital.

The assailants escaped before police officers and village watchmen arrived.

Montawal’s husband Mohalidin belong to a political clan in Kabacan.

In Abra, Rodel Pilor, 34, and Roland Lazara, both volunteers of Gov. Ma. Jocelyn Bernos, were shot by motorcycle-riding men in Barangay Kimmalaba, Dolores at around 9:15 a.m. yesterday.

Bullet shells for a caliber 5.56 rifle and shotgun were recovered at the scene.

Bernos called on the police to solve the murders and give justice to the family of the victims.

”The people of Abra know who are responsible for this,” Bernos said, but refused to name names.

The mayor of Dolores, Roberto Seares Jr., who will be pitted against Bernos in the gubernatorial race, condemned the killing, saying it was ”unjustified.”

Seares claimed the assailants are hired killers.

However, he noted that one of the victims had been tagged in a number of cases and was only out on bail.