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Wednesday, February 11, 2004
PNP denies Abra killings poll-related
By Harley F. Palangchao
CAMP DANGWA, Benguet -- Chief Supt. Rowland Albano, Cordillera police chief, denied Tuesday reports linking the two killing incidents in Abra province over the weekend to politics.
Instead, Albano claimed the shooting of a council candidate and an aide-de-camp were results of personal grudges between the victims and the suspects, whom he claimed were already arrested. He said their identities have yet to be reported to his office.
"The separate killings in Abra were not politically-motivated based on information I received from the investigators. It was more of a personal grudge," he stressed.
Last Sunday, Ceferino Callibag, 58, a candidate for councilor in Danglas town, was shot by two armed men who entered his sari-sari store.
The day before, Gregorio Castaņeda was also killed by five armed men in front of the residence of Sr. Supt. Wilmer Panabang, a candidate for mayor of Pennarubia.
Albano said the suspects in the two shooting incidents were nabbed and appropriate charges were already filed against them.
In a related development, Albano said around 42 heavily armed members of the Regional Mobile Group (RMG) were deployed in the towns of Lagayan, La Paz, Bangued and other areas that have history of violence the past three elections.
Some of the RMG operatives will also man the checkpoints set up in strategic areas in the province, he added.
The police director also urged Abra politicians to put into action the pledges they made during the signing of a peace agreement among them and their supporters last January 21.
The covenant aims to stop election-related violence and fraud that has marred previous polls in Abra -- the reason why local politicians were asked to commit to ensure an honest and peaceful May 2004 elections.
In the 2001 polls, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) placed Abra under its control.
At present, some 28 Abra barangays have also been listed under the Comelec's "areas of concern."
(February 11, 2004 issue)
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Young man with P1.25-M an NPA courier: police