Police suspect 2 cases of election-related violence
LINGAYEN—The police are investigating two cases that could be politically motivated and considered as election-related violence.
One case involves the ambush of an ally of the vice mayor of San Manuel while the other is the wounding of a re-electionist councilor in Mangatarem during a mini political rally of a rival party. Both incidents happened on April 11.
Senior Supt. Marlou Chan, officer-in-charge of the Provincial Police Office identified the victim in San Manuel as Darwin Saculles, 35, municipal employee and known supporter of Vice Mayor Salvador Perez.
Perez said he wants a deeper probe into the case as initial reports reaching him said Saculles’ presence in the area might have been misconstrued as spying on a rival political group that was conducting a house-to-house sortie at that time.
Saculles was on his way to Barangay San Juan to pick up a package sent to him by his wife working abroad when he was ambushed at around 4:15 p.m.
He sustained multiple gun shot wounds in different parts of the body fired by three suspects and was rushed by responding policemen to the Sacred Heart Hospital in Urdaneta City for treatment but he died on arrival.
The suspects are now the object of manhunt.
His firearm was missing and believed taken by the suspects.
MANGATAREM COUNCILOR
Meanwhile in Mangatarem, Councilor Raymund Cruz, 58, was wounded in Barangay Caoile Olegario when still unidentified suspects opened fire at him during a mini rally of the Liberal Party.
Cruz, who belongs to an opposing party, said he noticed a group of men who hurriedly left, acting suspiciously.
He then decided to leave and proceeded to his parked motorcycle where he was fired upon and was hit on the left arm.
Despite his wound, he managed to drive off and went to the Dr. Velasquez Clinic at Mabini Street for immediate treatment.
He was later transferred to the Villaflor Hospital in Dagupan City for further treatment.—with report from Eva Visperas
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