LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte — Four supporters of rival candidates in the mayoral race of Magsingal town in Ilocos Sur province died on the spot in a shooting incident on Saturday morning, May 7, the last day of the national campaign season for May 9 polls, police said.
Initial police investigation showed that the incident stemmed from an alleged vote-buying activity that went out of control.
Investigators said that a group of persons belonging to the camp of mayoral candidate Lorry Salvador Jr., who is running as an independent, went to the village of Labut in the town to verify an alleged vote-buying activity in the area.
It was there where Salvador’s supporters figured in a gunfight with the individuals backing mayoral candidate Alrico Facis, a relative of the outgoing mayor who is running under the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan, according to the initial report from the police.
Aside from the four who died, four other individuals were reported to have been injured, the police said.
Police withheld the names of both the fatalities and the injured pending notification of their next of kin.
It was not immediately clear which group of supporters the fatalities belonged to.
The Ilocos Sur Provincial Police Office, in a statement, said they would give out a complete statement on the incident anytime today.
The provincial police earlier said they would intensify the presence of authorities in the town to ensure the safety of local residents.