Gunmen in military uniforms fatally shot a governor and five civilians on Saturday while the provincial leader was meeting villagers at his home in the central Philippines, in the latest brazen assault on local politicians in the country.
At least six men armed with assault rifles and wearing military-style camouflage and bullet-proof vests alighted from three SUVs and opened fire on Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, hitting him and at least five other people in front of his home in Pamplona town.
A total of 10 suspects were seen fleeing the scene and later abandoned the SUVs, police said. Police set up security checkpoints and launched a province-wide search for the suspects.
The province has a history of violent political rivalries, reports AP.
Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, the wife of the slain governor, said in a Facebook video that the five villagers also died.
She demanded justice and said her husband “did not deserve that kind of death. He was serving constituents on a Saturday along with his department heads.”
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. condemned the mid-morning attack, which took place as impoverished villagers gathered in front of Degamo's house to seek medical and other aid.
In a statement Marcos said, “My government will not rest until we have brought the perpetrators of this dastardly and heinous crime to justice.”
Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul
