THE shooting of a Masbate town official and her companion in Cebu City yesterday, Monday, raised fears of election violence here.
Although Leny Betonio Eser, who was wounded in the attack, is councilor of Pio V. Corpuz town in Masbate, the incident showed how armed men probably hired to hurt her decided to do it in Cebu. A companion of Eser, identified as Crisanta Lauro, died of gunshot wounds in the head and chest during the incident. Police said Lauro owned a house in Talisay city and was live-in partner of Mayor Hermigildo Betonio III of the Pio V. Corpuz town. Eser and Betonio are siblings.
Police reports on the incident said Eser and Lauro arrived in Cebu from Masbate at dawn Monday. They hailed a cab at the port area to bring them to Lauro’s house in Talisay. It was on their way to Talisay when two men riding a motorcycle fired several shots at the cab.
The assailants and the motive have yet to be identified, yet Police Officer 3 Geoffrey Gutual said political rivalry could be the behind the shooting. He did not elaborate but the election season is expected to heat up with less than a month to go before the May 13 polls.
When Cebu’s police officials warned media last week of possible election violence, they made no mention of the killing going borderless. They warned journalists of getting caught in the crossfire between election rivals, but not of imported political tensions and assassins to target visitors.
A dialogue between police officials and media representatives last week discussed issues that may crop up in the coming elections. One issue was on areas where violence may erupt. There was nothing about guns-for-hire waiting for their targets in Cebu.
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Here’s something social media users can do to try to stop campaign violations. The Sun.Star website at www.sunstar.com.ph will hold a Facebook event this Wednesday dubbed as the “Sumbongero” forum or a gathering of “sumbongeros” (informers or tipsters).
Participants will be asked to present photos of election violations, such as campaign materials illegally posted on trees, electric posts, jeepneys, fences or areas not designated for campaign posters. Note the time, date and place where the photo was taken and the candidates who committed the violations.
To join, go to Facebook.com, open your account and search for Sun.Star–Philippine News. Forum will run from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. this Wednesday, April 17.
Election officials and watchdogs will be among the participants and will be ready to accept complaints of “sumbongeros.”
As of 6:30 p.m. Monday, 74 Facebook users said they are going.
Elections director Temie Lambino for Central Visayas had said the poll office is serious in going after those with illegal campaign materials. A candidate who violates the rules may face imprisonment and perpetual disqualification from public office. If the candidate gets elected but is later found to have violated rules, he or she may be removed from office.
Lambino said the process is simple. Someone takes a photo of the violation and reports this to the election office; the candidate responsible is given notice to remove the illegal campaign material. If the candidate does not act, a case is filed in court.
(ninicab@sunstar.com.ph)