Friday, April 20, 2007 Bet's aide shot dead in Monkayo By Carlo P. Mallo
ELECTION-related violence has taken its toll on Compostela Valley after the driver and close-in aide of a congressional bet in the province was shot dead Thursday morning.
Chief Superintendent Andres Caro III, police regional director, described the incident as the first-ever election-related violent incident to happen in the region with barely 24 days before the May elections.
Caro said the victim was identified as a certain Joven Lonoy, of Sitio Liboton in Monkayo town.
Lonoy was the driver and close-in aide of Joselito Brillantes, who is running for congress under Liberal Party, representing Comval's fist congressional district.
He is pitted against Representative Manuel "Way Kurat" Zamora of Lakas-CMD and independent candidate Francisco "Franco" Tito.
Caro said the victim was shot dead by two persons at around 8:30 Thursday morning.
The gunmen allegedly approached the victim, who was inside his residence, and without provocation shot him at close range. Three empty shells of .45 caliber pistol were found at the crime scene.
The suspects immediately left the area after the incident.
The Compostela Valley Provincial Police Office is conducting further investigation on the incident. No other election-related violence has been reported by the Police Regional Office-Southern Mindanao, so far.
