Woman, touted to succeed husband as mayor, shot dead

BISLIG CITY — The wife of Mayor Librado Navarro was killed on Friday in a case that the mayor said was politically motivated because his wife, Carmencita, was running for mayor next year to replace him.

Carmencita, 62, died after taking a bullet in the back around 6:15 p.m. on Friday as she supervised work on a beautification project for Baywalk Boulevard in the city.

The project was in preparation for the arrival of delegates to the 3rd Organic Asia Congress that will be held in the city.

Guard nabbed

Police have arrested a security guard of Paper Industries Corporation of the Philippines  found to be carrying a .45-caliber pistol in the area hours after the shooting of Carmencita.

Carmencita was brought to the Bislig District Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Mayor Navarro said his family had been receiving death threats from his political enemies and syndicates involved in illegal logging, adding his wife could be the immediate target.

He said Carmencita was to be proclaimed as candidate for mayor.