Bulacan town may be placed under election watchlist after trio slay

THE Central Luzon Police Regional Office (PRO 3) may recommend the inclusion of the municipality of San Rafael in Bulacan in areas of concern ahead of the May 2025 national and local elections.

In an online press conference, PRO 3 Director Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said they are considering the matter following the killing of three individuals there last week.

Among the victims was the alleged IT consultant of a politician in the province.

The PRO 3 has already formed a special investigation task group for the conduct of an in-depth investigation on the incident.

“Pinag-uusapan natin yan kung itong San Rafael, Bulacan ay irerekomenda natin na isa sa mga areas with election risk factors dahil nga sa pangyayari na ito,” said Fajardo.

(We are discussing whether San Rafael, Bulacan will be recommended as one of the areas with election risk factors due to this incident.)

“Marahil ito ay politically-motivated killings dahil base dito sa information na ishinare sa atin, yung isa diyan sa biktima ay dati na nagtatrabaho as lead consultant sa mga kilala pong mga political figures sa Bulacan, so isa yan sa anggulo na titingnan natin,” she added.

(These may be politically-motivated killings because, based on the information shared with us, one of the victims previously worked as a lead consultant for well-known political figures in Bulacan. That is one of the angles we will be looking into.)

Fajardo said a P2-million reward is being offered to anyone who can provide information about the suspects in the fatal shooting incident.

The suspects were onboard a sports utility vehicle when they fired upon the victims aboard another SUV using automatic rifles on Friday, March 21.

A pregnant woman was among the victims. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)