Politics could be behind ambush of Cebu town mayor — Albayalde

MANILA, Philippines — Investigators are eyeing politics as the motive behind the ambush of San Fernando, Cebu Mayor Lakambini Reluya, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said on Wednesday.

“Ang sabi ni mayora ang belief niya is talagang politically motivated so ito ‘yung tinitingnan natin,” Albayalde told reporters on Wednesday, saying Reluya could not think of any other possible motive behind the attack.

(The mayor said she believes the ambush was really politically motivated so this is what we are looking at.)

Reluya was onboard a van in Barangay Linao, Talisay City when she was ambushed at around 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 22.

She survived the attack but her husband, Ricardo Reluya Jr., their driver Allan Bayot and a certain Ricky Monterona were killed on the spot. Two of the mayor’s bodyguards also survived the ambush.

READ: San Fernando mayor survives ambush

Reluya is seeking reelection in the May polls and was poised to challenge her lone opponent, businessman Ruben Feliciano.

Albayalde said the PNP may recommend to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that the municipality of San Fernando be included in the poll body’s election watchlist. According to the PNP, areas included in the election watchlist are those with intense political rivalry, have previous incidents of poll-related violence, or have the presence of threat groups.

Albayalde on Tuesday gave the director of the Cebu Provincial Police Office and the chief of the Talisay City Police Station two weeks to solve the case. He said they will be relieved from their posts if they fail to meet the deadline.  /muf

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