Local chief exec posts in town of slain Masbate mayor vacant

LEGAZPI CITY –– Both the mayoral and vice mayoral posts in the town of Batuan in Masbate province are left vacant after the killing of its acting mayor in a shooting last Wednesday.

The regional trial court branch 50 in San Jacinto town confirmed Friday that the incumbent mayor of Batuan, son of the slain Vice Mayor Charlie Yuson has been at large since July for illegal possession of explosives.

The trial court served a warrant to Mayor Charmax Yuson in July who has been absent from his public post, making his late father acting mayor until his time of death.

“There is still no one to take over. Still awaiting further action from DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) and other agencies to help us,” a statement from the Batuan local government unit said.

The LGU statement also called out the unjust killing of the acting mayor.

“We condemn this act of political killing,” the statement said.

The vice mayor of Batuan died after unidentified gunmen shot him and his companions Wilfredo Pineda and Alberto Alforte while they were having breakfast at a canteen in Sampaloc, Manila./lzb