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Tuesday, May 04, 2004
Monkayo ABC prexy slain amid big crowd
DAVAO -- Election-related violence continue in the province of Compostela Valley with the killing of a barangay captain Sunday in front of hundreds of residents, less than two weeks after another village official was killed by still unidentified suspects.
In the wake of these developments, officials of the Commission on Elections are to meet with police and military this week to determine whether Monkayo should be placed as immediate area of concern.
But reports Monday night revealed Monkayo is among 14 more towns added to the list of election areas of immediate concern, bringing to 44 the total number of election hotspots nationwide, police said.
The latest victim was identified as Arthur "Saddam" Baltazar, 45, barangay captain of Babag and a known supporter of the late Monkayo mayor Joel Brillantes.
Baltazar, president of the Association of the Barangay Captains (ABC) in Monkayo, was killed in by suspected members of the New People's Army (NPA) before hundreds of spectators Sunday evening.
Compostela Valley police director Jaime Morente said that at around 11:30
p.m. Sunday, Baltazar was attending a coronation program at the barangay
gym when an undetermined number of armed men allegedly approached him.
Despite his wife Alma's pleas, the suspected NPAs allegedly fired at Baltazar, killing him on the spot.
Sr. Supt. Morente said the suspects, whom he identified as members of the Front Committee (FC) 20 of the NPA operating in Compostela, proceeded to Baltazar's residence and peppered his house with bullets.
Baltazar's five-month-old child survived the incident unscathed.
The suspects also ransacked the victims' house, and carted away cash, personal belongings and Baltazar's computer unit.
Baltazar was actively campaigning for the Brillantes brother, Manuel Jr. who is running for mayor in Monkayo.
While police say rebels did it, Baltazar's wife and people close to him say politics could be behind the assassination.
The victim reportedly begged the suspects to spare his life, but was nevertheless shot five times at close range.
Alma said the suspects also chased her and tried killing her.
"Pero gihangyo gyud nako sila nga dili na lang ko apilon kay duna pa koy anak nga nabilin (I begged them to spare me because we have children)," said Alma in a radio interview Monday morning.
The victim reportedly sustained five gunshot wounds from a 9 mm pistol in the different parts of his body, which caused his instantaneous death.
The suspects who were armed with pistols and M16 armalite rifles was said to have taken Baltazar's .45 caliber pistol while fleeing from the crime scene.
Authorities said the victim had long been in the NPA's hitlist.
But an official of the JB Management Mining Corporation, however, said that Baltazar's death could have been caused by the intense political race in Monkayo.
"Sabi ng wife hindi NPA, pulitika gyud ang reason," said the miner, who requested anonymity.
The incident happened exactly eight days after unidentified suspects shot dead Rodolfo Gogo, a councilman of Barangay Olaycon, also in Monkayo, on April 24.
Gogo, a former supporter of the late Brillantes, was campaign coordinator of incumbent Mayor Rizal Gentugaya.
Morente said this is the third election related violence in Monkayo.
The first incident was the lobbing of grenades at the house of Monkayo vice mayor Domingo Estrada on March 18 where two of Estrada's nephews were wounded.
Then there was the shooting of a political leader of Congressman Manuel "Way Kurat" Zamora and a member of the Bayan Muna partylist identified as Olaycon Brgy. Kagawad Rodolfo Gogo on April 24.
Gogo was also killed by an unknown assailant while standing in front of the
Olaycon Elementary School Saturday evening.
Politics was also blamed for the killing.
Aside from Brillantes and Gentugaya, other contenders for the mayoral seat are Mt. Diwata Barangay Capt. Franco Tito and incumbent Vice Mayor Ding Estrada.
Other than the town of Monkayo, also added in the list of AICs were the towns of Cabugao and Sta. Maria in Ilocos Sur; Lagayan in Abra; Paluras and Valenio in Masbate; Zamboanguita in Negros Oriental; Calbayog in Western Samar; Damaralin in Zamboanga del Sur; Tambulig and La Libertad in Zamboanga del Norte; Pantao Ragat in Misamis Oriental; Palimbang in Sultan Kudarat; and Marawi City in Lanao del Sur.
PNP spokesman Joel Goltiao said 14 towns were declared hotspots because of continuous election-related violence, intense political rivalry and active involvement of NPA rebels in those areas as the May 10 elections nears.
Goltiao said they have already deployed additional police and military personnel to the 44 cities and towns declared as hotspots to maintain peace and order there. BOT/RCO/Sunnex Luzon
(May 4, 2004 issue)
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