Thursday, April 26, 2007 4 supporters of Abra mayoralty bet survive ambush By Jane Cadalig
FOUR followers of a mayoralty candidate in Abra survived an ambush that was perpetrated by still unidentified persons in the wee hours of Tuesday morning.
A report from the Police Regional Office (PRO) in the Cordillera identified the victims as Joel Bagay Castillo, 24, single, a nephew of Mayor Felix Castillo of Langiden; Andy Laureta Blaza, 32, single; Joseph Bosque Llanesa, 27, married; and Reynante Padang Cayapa, 23, single. The victims, who are all said to be supporters of Langiden mayoralty candidate Jessie Castillo, are residents of Baac, Langiden, Abra.
According to a PRO-Cordillera report emailed to Sun.Star, the victims were fired upon in Sitio Bariquir, San Antonio, Bangued, while on their way to Barangay Cabuloan at around 3:45 a.m. last April 24.
The police reported that the four targets were on board a red owner-type jeep with license plate number ACG-835, which was owned by Castillo, to fetch their comrades at Cabuloan when they saw big rocks blocking their way.
They immediately jumped off the vehicle upon sensing trouble, while the suspects, who positioned themselves at the left side of the road, fired upon the vehicle.
The victims suffered minor injuries while the vehicle incurred three holes on its windshield.
Personnel of the Bangued Municipal Police Station, the 1601st Provincial Police Mobile Group and Task Force Abra who responded were able to recover 23 empty shells of a still unknown caliber from the crime scene.
The recovered items are now under the custody of the PNP Crime Laboratory field office in Abra for forensic examination.
The motive of the ambush is believed to be politically-motivated.
