6 charged over ambush of Quezon mayor

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — Criminal charges have been filed against six persons including a mayoral candidate and an incumbent vice mayor in connection with the attack on the mayor of Infanta, Quezon in February.

Infanta Vice Mayor Lord Arnel Ruanto, mayoral candidate Ereberto Escueta, Joraffin Plantilla, Ronil Nolledo, Gilbert Pacio and Bobby Vargaz were charged with frustrated murder before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Infanta on Thursday, according to Col. Joel Villanueva, Quezon police director.

Task group America, which was formed to investigate the assassination attempt on Mayor Filipina Grace America, said quarry operations could be the motive for the attack.

America was wounded in the ambush. She said the attack was politically motivated.

She accused Escueta and Ruanto of being the masterminds of the ambush.