New Zamboanga del Sur barangay captain slain

MANILA, Philippines — Another newly elected barangay chairman has been killed, this time in Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur.

Rofoldo Dacol, 56, of Barangay Lapedian was about to park his tricycle near his home when an unidentified man approached and shot him at close range on Wednesday night.

Dacol was declared dead on arrival in a hospital.

Responding policemen recovered a bullet shell for a caliber .45 pistol at the scene.

Maj. Gen. Jonnel Estomo of the police Western Mindanao Area called on witnesses, relatives and supporters of the victim to come out to provide any information to help identify the assailant.

Probers have yet to determine if the killing was related to the recently concluded barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE).

On Tuesday, Paul Albert Saquian, newly elected barangay captain of Datu Abdul Dadia was driving his Nissan Almera when he was shot by motorcycle-riding men.

In Cotabato, Edmar Perero, who was elected council member in Barangay Dolores in Antipas town, was on his way home in a tricycle when he was gunned down, also on Tuesday.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it has recorded more than 20 deaths related to the BSKE as of Nov. 1.

Masbate poll officer faces dismissal

Meanwhile, an election officer in Masbate is in hot water for failing to remove a BSKE candidate from the list of qualified bets.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said Magdie Moran, election officer of Aroroy town, faces dismissal from the service for “gross insubordination.”

The Comelec ordered an administrative investigation of Moran.

The poll body directed Moran to remove Aniano Capinig from the list of candidates for barangay chairman of Cabas-an and inform him that his certificate of candidacy was cancelled for ineligibility.

However, Moran only suspended Capinig’s proclamation.

The votes obtained by Capinig were considered as stray.The qualified candidate who garenered the second highest number of votes was proclaimed as the winner.

Overspending

On candidates who spent more than P5 per voter during the campaign, Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiangco said the poll body would file cases for overspending.

Laudiangco said the Comelec would scrutinize the Statement of Contribution and Expenditures (SOCE) to be submitted by BSKE candidates.

At the Bagong Pilipinas public briefing yesterday, Laudiangco said overspending is a criminal offense.

He said violators face imprisonment of up to six years, forfeiture of the right to suffrage and perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

Laudiangco said the SOCE would be the basis to determine if candidates complied with the expenditure limit provided under the law. — John Unson, Mayen Jaymalin