Thursday, May 03, 2007 (Philippines)

Election violence takes its first toll in Cebu with the murder of candidate for Sta. Fe mayor, Rogelio Ilustrisimo Sr. Ilustrisimo (above) suffered four gunshot wounds from a lone gunman who attacked him just a few steps from the provincial Comelec office within the Capitol compound. He was attending the hearing of a disqualification complaint filed by his rival Domingo Zaspa. Sun.star photo/Amper Campaña) A MAYORAL candidate in the northern town of Sta. Fe in Bantayan Island, Cebu was shot dead some five meters away from the doorstep of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) provincial office inside the Capitol compound yesterday morning. The death of mayoral candidate and incumbent Sta. Fe Councilor Rogelio Ilustrisimo Sr. is considered the first violent incident involving a political candidate in Cebu. A cartographic sketch of the gunman is already out but the police have no suspect yet. They believe it was a professional hit, though. Pinoy Votes: Sun.Star Election 2007 [full story]