Another poll exec killed in Mindanao

LANAO DEL NORTE, Philippines — Days after an election officer was killed in a town in Sultan Kudarat province, another poll official was shot dead in Salvador town of Lanao del Norte in an incident the police suspected could be related to the elections in May next year.

According to the still sketchy report from the Lanao del Norte police, Mark Orlando Vallecer II, the acting election officer of Nunungan town of the province, was shot dead by a still unidentified assailant in Barangay Curva of Salvador town at 2:28 p.m. on Monday.

READ: Barangay captain candidate shot dead in Davao de Oro

Vallecer, 51, resident of Kauswagan village in Cagayan de Oro City, sustained multiple gunshots in the head that led to his death, police said.

Police recovered from the crime scene five fired cartridge cases of .45-caliber pistol and one fired slug.

Vallecer’s death came in the heels of the killing on Saturday of John Nico Pandoy, acting election officer of President Quirino town of Sultan Kudarat.

On the same day, Gladden Lim, 48, who is running for governor in Sarangani province, was shot and wounded in Cagayan de Oro City. —Leah Agonoy