Zamboanga del Sur town councilor slain in gun attack

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Unidentified motorcycle-riding men gunned down a municipal councilor in Ramon Magsaysay, Zamboanga del Sur on Tuesday.

Romeo Mainar Sr., 54, a resident of Purok 3, Barangay Lantawan, Sominot, was driving his motorcycle on his way to Pagadian City when he was shot at around noon, according to Chief Superintendent Emmanuel Luis Licup, Zamboanga peninsula police director. 

Licup said the incident occurred in Purok 4, Barangay Bobongan. 

Witnesses said the assailants alighted from their motorcycle and fired more shots when the victim fell  from his motorbike.

The gunmen reportedly fled toward Molave town. 

Residents rushed the victim to the Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center, where he was declared dead on arrival.

A manhunt for the assailants is ongoing.

‘Deploy soldiers in La Union’

Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has been asked to place La Union under military protection amid recent killings of politicians.

In a letter to Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas on Nov. 20, La Union second district Rep. Sandar Eriguel said the military should intervene to ensure peace and order in the province, particularly in the towns of Agoo, Bauang, Caba and Tubao.

“To wait  for the start of the election period may be too late... The augmentation of... Army personnel... will provide a strong deterrent against evil forces  roaming our... province. The presence of soldiers will also give confidence to our people to exercise their freedom of expression and right to suffrage without fear of threat and violence,” Eriguel  said. 

She also asked the Comelec to provide security for her and her family members, saying they continue to receive death threats. 

Eriguel’s husband Eufranio, a former congressman, was gunned down while addressing barangay leaders in Capas, Agoo last May, two days before the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

Three other persons were killed and several others were injured in the gun attack.

“At the time of my husband’s murder, our... security details, including those of my daughter Agoo Mayor Stefanie Ann Eriguel, were pulled out which left us vulnerable to any attack,” Eriguel said.

She also cited the killings of Sudipen Mayor Allan Buquing and Balaoan Vice Mayor Alfred Concepcion in recent ambushes.

“Several local leaders were also gunned down in... Bauang and Tubao but these were not reported in the media,” Eriguel said. – With Jun Elias