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Tuesday, February 10, 2004
2 dead as national poll bets start campaign
By Harley F. Palangchao
BAGUIO -- A candidate for councilor and an aide of another politician were killed in separate shooting incidents over the weekend in Abra Province, as the country headed into the campaign for the May elections, police said Monday.
In Manila on Monday, President Arroyo called on her five election rivals to shun mudslinging during the campaign period that begins Tuesday.
Ceferino Callibag, 58, a candidate for councilor in the town of Danglas, was shot dead inside his store by still unknown gunmen on Sunday night, while a day before, unidentified persons also gunned down a close aide of Senior Supt. Wilmer Panabang, who is running for mayor of Pennarubia town.
Gregorio Castaņeda, known among his friends as Kumander Agila, died after sustaining five gunshot wounds in different parts of his body. He was shot dead outside Panabang's home in the town of Penarrubia on Saturday, said provincial police director Senior Superintendent Artermio Hicban.
The two killings came barely three weeks after politicians in Abra, led by Gov. Vicente Valera, signed a peace agreement for the holding of peaceful and orderly elections.
The signing of the peace agreement was meant to stop election-related frauds and shooting incidents in the province that marred previous elections.
Several politicians in Abra and their supporters were killed in the past three elections, which prompted Chief Supt. Rowland Albano, Cordillera police chief, to ask politicians to sign the peace accord.
The entire Abra province was placed under Comelec control in the 2001 elections following a series of election-related fraud and killings. All gun ban exemptions were also revoked.
At least two mayors in Abra -- Clarence Benwaren of Tineg and Jose Segundo of Tubo -- were killed in the past two years.
In recent shooting incidents, Callibag's supporters reportedly claimed the killing was politically motivated.
On the other hand, Castaņeda and Panabang were together in Ilocos Sur a day before the killing, police reported.
In Manila, Arroyo said in a statement the public deserves an electoral campaign based on concrete platforms from contenders and a "high regard for democratic principles."
"As the campaign starts tomorrow (Tuesday), I would like to call upon all the candidates to take the high road to prudence, decency and civility in the fight for the vote."
She said her government was committed to "clean, orderly and honest polls" and that all state agencies would be "at the beck and call" of the elections body to ensure the objective.
Arroyo, a US-trained economist, is trailing behind film star Fernando Poe in popularity surveys. She had earlier blamed volatility in the exchange rate and the stock market on jitters caused by "excessive politicking."
Analysts have also blamed Poe's candidacy for the peso's slide, saying the movie star has failed to impress the business community and present an economic platform.
Elections in the country are often marred by accusations of cheating and intimidation of candidates. (With AFP)
(February 10, 2004 issue)
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