Cagayan mayor shot dead while campaigning

MANILA, Philippines — A reelectionist mayor in Cagayan was shot dead while campaigning in Rizal town on Wednesday night.

Rizal Mayor Joel Ruma died while being treated for a gunshot to the right shoulder at the Tuao District Hospital.

The bullet reportedly penetrated Ruma’s vital organs before exiting in the lower back, according to Col. Randulf Tuano, public information officer of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Tuano said the assailant fired from a  high vantage point.

Three others were wounded in the incident that occurred at 9:30 p.m. in Barangay Illuru Sur. Two of them were identified as Merson Abiguebel and Melanie Talay.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) condemned the incident and urged the police to immediately arrest the perpetrators.

“May this serve as a wake-up call for the PNP, that we need immediate justice by apprehending the killers. As long as the killers are not put behind bars, the public will not believe that the coming elections will be peaceful and orderly,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia said.

Election officials are still considering whether to place Rizal town under Comelec control or classify it under the “red” category.

Tuano said no election-related violent incidents were reported in Rizal during  previous elections.

Cagayan Valley police director Brig. Gen. Antonio Marallag Jr. said a manhunt was launched for the killers.

“We assure the public that all members of the regional police are moving in order to arrest the assailants,” Marallag said in a statement.

Tuano said the four police officers who were securing the campaign   sortie could have returned fire.

He said their firearms would be subjected to ballistic tests to determine if the bullets that wounded the three victims were fired from their guns.

“They heard a confirmation that a sniper made the shot, but they also heard gunshots coming from the barangay hall,” Tuano said.

Capt. Shiela Joy Fronda, spokesperson for the Cagayan police, said a special investigation task group was formed to hasten the probe on Ruma’s murder.

Fronda said there were no reported threats against Ruma.

Abra mayor ‘threatens’ radioman

Meanwhile, the mayor of La Paz town in Abra has been accused of threatening a radio journalist over  his report about a shootout in Tayum.

The complainant, Romeo Gonzales of radio dzRH told the Baguio City police that Mayor JB Bernos threatened and hurled invectives against him on Facebook Messenger.

“Tarantado ka Rommy, very irresponsible,” the mayor supposedly said on the message.

Gonzales said Bernos contacted him through a video call wherein the mayor allegedly said: “P… na mo Mr. Gonzales babalikan kita.”

In his report on the shootout that occurred in Tayum on Monday, Gonzales described one of the groups of armed men as goons of a political party.

The Manila Broadcasting Corp. Media Group.-dzRH condemned Bernos for allegedly threatening Gonzales.

The media company vowed to hold Bernos accountable for his actions. –  Artemio Dumlao