3 men shot dead in Samar town

TACLOBAN CITY — Three men were shot dead in a remote village of Santa Margarita town in Samar at past 10 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 6.

The victims were identified as Pedie Deborbon, Junjun Deborbon, and Ernesto Doinog — all residents of Barangay Roxas which is more than two kilometers away from the town proper.

The three victims were on their way to attend a cockfight when the suspects appeared and suddenly shot them to death, said Patrolwoman Maria Margiline Caandoy.

“Our investigators are still conducting a probe on this incident. We have yet to determine the identities of the suspects and their motive,” she said in a phone interview.

But in a post on his social media, retired Colonel Emil Zosa, who is running for mayor of the town, claimed that the victims were his political supporters.

He said one of those killed had met and informed him that his tarpaulin was destroyed.

Zosa’s wife Gemma is the incumbent mayor of the fourth class town with more than 26,000 residents.

During the 2019 elections, Santa Margarita was declared as among the areas of concern due to intense political rivalries and alleged presence of armed groups.

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