AUTHORITIES arrested on Monday, May 14, one of the suspects in the killing of former La Union congressman Eufranio Eriguel.

The suspect, Felizardo Villanueva, was a candidate for barangay chairman in Capas, Agoo, La Union during the 2018 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections. He is detained at the Agoo police station.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Oscar Albayalde said Tuesday, May 15, that the killing of Eriguel may have been politically motivated. Eriguel endorsed Villanueva's rival.

Eriguel was speaking at a miting de avance when he was shot dead along with his two bodyguards on Saturday, May 12, in Barangay Capas.

The Eriguel killing was among the 47 possible election-related violent incidents that the PNP recorded during the election period beginning April 14. Only seven have been confirmed, so far, to be related to the just concluded local elections. A total of 35 individuals were killed.

Albayalde said La Union police are still conducting operations to identify other possible suspects in the killing. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo/SunStar Philippines)