TAYUG—Even before the campaign period for the 2010 local elections could start, this town registered already its first poll-related violence.

Consequently, Tayug may likely be included anew in the list of election “hot spots” in the country during the campaign period and election day on May 2010 following last week’s shooting of a bodyguard of the vice mayor.

Sammy Rivas, 41, a bodyguard of Vice Mayor Janet Zaragoza, sustained three gunshot wounds after he was allegedly shot by a bodyguard of the town mayor on early dawn of December 22 in Barangay Tokitec.

The suspect, Orlando Fernandez, alias “Poroy” is employed as a utility worker of the municipal government but reportedly serves as bodyguard of Mayor Carlos Trese Mapili.

The victim Rivas was brought to the Family Hospital in Tayug where he managed to identify Fernandez as his alleged attacker before he succumbed to his wounds.

Police investigation showed that Rivas was shot about 300 meters away from his home while he was on board his motorcycle by Fernandez and an unidentified companion who rode tandem on a motorcycle.

Chief Inspector Edgar Cacayan, chief of police of Tayug, said suspect Fernandez has been arrested and is now charged for murder before the Regional Trial Court.

Cacayan initially ruled out politics as the motive for the killing despite the long-standing tension between the mayor and the vice mayor.

Tension has risen recently between the two camps after Zaragoza lost in an election protest filed against her.

Zaragoza is again running for vice mayor under the Liberal Party in tandem with Vicente Abubo, incumbent barangay captain of Barangay Laoac.

Mapili, on the other hand, is seeking his third term of office under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) with running-mate Madelyn Cabotaje Ramirez, who won her election protest against Zaragoza.

Ramirez is reportedly set to take his oath of office as vice mayor of Tayug on December 28 after the Comelec denied Zaragoza’s motion for recommendation to its resolution with finality.—LM

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