DESPITE the implementation of the nationwide gun ban starting April 14 for the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK0 elections, a shooting incident transpired in the province of Abra.
The Pidigan, Abra Municipal Police Station received the report from a concerned citizen on April 15. The shooting happened in Sitio Banay, Barangay Monggoc.
The victims were identified as Barangay Immuli kagawad Victor Dela Cruz Pisco, his wife, village chief Elida Sales Pisco, and sister Myrna Pisco-Vasquez. They were shot by still unidentified gunmen.
Initial investigation revealed that the victims were on board a blue elf-truck while traversing the Pidigan-Pilar provincial road going to Barangay Immuli when they were shot by the motorcycle-riding gunmen.
The kagawad was pronounced dead on arrival by the attending physician of the Abra Provincial Hospital, while the two victims are under observation.
Personnel of the Abra Provincial Crime Laboratory Office recovered from the crime scene two spent shells from a caliber .45 pistol. Investigation is ongoing.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Cordillera noted a low turnout of prospective candidates for the SK during the first day of filing of certificates of candidacy.
Comelec-Cordillera Director Julius Torres said despite the abundance of prospective candidates in the barangay position, the region saw a minimal number in the SK position.
"This is what is saddening because based on our data for the first day of filing of candidacy for the Sanguniang Kabataan, we only had a few who filed and we do not know the reason why. For Baguio City alone, there were only around nine who filed for the SK Chairman and five to six for SK kagawads, and same true with other municipalities," Torres said.
The Comelec, however, is hopeful this would not be an indication of the youth's non-participation or lack of interest in the coming electoral process.
"Hopefully, their interest would pickup since we still have until April 20 for the filing of their candidacies," Torres said.
Torres said for the barangay elective posts, close to 400 candidates have filed their candidacy in Baguio City, while 1,300 have filed in other parts of the region.
"We are hoping that the prospective candidates would continue to show a good response in filing to be processed faster by our commission," added Torres.