Killings mar poll peace pact signing

CALBAYOG CITY—The signing of a peace covenant on Sunday among Samar candidates in this city was marred by a shooting incident that killed three people.

The candidates who participated in the signing included Samar Representatives Mel Senen Sarmiento (1st district) and Milagrosa Tan (2nd district); Samar Gov. Sharee Ann Tan and her opponent, Rosa Jessica Delgado; the candidates for vice governor; provincial board members and mayors of Calbayog and Catbalogan cities.

The signing of the agreement, held inside Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, was witnessed by Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, who said his presence signified the desire of the national government to ensure peaceful elections in Samar.

He said he hoped that the candidates would fulfill their commitment to achieve the purpose of the covenant.

Samar has been identified as one of the 15  potential hot spots or concerned areas. However, a shooting around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday became a cause for concern for the candidates.

Governor Tan and Calbayog City Mayor Reynaldo Uy urged the police to speed up their investigation, calling the incident a “bad sign.”

Killed in the shooting were Lito Buracan, William Someno and Vencio Abrea, all residents of Barangay Migara, Calbayog City. They were hit in different parts of their bodies by still unidentified and an undetermined number of assailants in Barangay (village) Alibaba, 12 kilometers away from the city proper.

Injured were bystanders Renato Jhonson, who was hit on his left knee, and Inocenta Demetria, who was hit on her stomach. Both were residents of Alibaba.

Supt. Elmer Cinco, city police chief, said the three slain victims were on their way home from attending the eve of Barangay Alibaba’s fiesta when they were waylaid.

Cinco said they were looking at politics and personal grudge as possible motives.

An aide of Governor Tan said Buracan was a political organizer of the governor. But the governor said she still has to confirm this information. “But regardless of who the victims were supporting, the killing should be investigated and solved,” Tan said.

Samar provincial elections supervisor Ma. Corazon Montallana refused to comment on the killing as she was waiting for the result of the police investigation. She, however, hoped that it was just an isolated case.