Poll violence body count rising

The body count is rising in election-related cases of violence nationwide.

In Quezon, at least two supporters of reelectionist Gov. David Suarez were gunned down on Monday, prompting the highest Church official in the province to express alarm.

“What is happening now in Quezon?” said Lucena Bishop Emilio Marquez.

Suarez said his family is offering a P400,000 reward for information that will lead to the arrest of the killers of Genesis Castillo, 32, and his live-in partner, Sharon Matibag, 30. Both were Suarez’s community organizers.

Treasurer attacked

On Sunday, the treasurer of General Nakar town and his wife were gunned down by motorcycle-riding suspects.

The victim, Pio Astejada, and his wife, Amelia, were on the way home when they were attacked. While police could not yet link the killings to the elections, General Nakar Mayor Leovigildo Rozul said Pio is a member of the town’s election board of canvassers.

Bishop Marquez called on authorities to solve the killings.

In Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, a supporter of reelectionist Mayor Matilde Sales was killed and two others were wounded in a clash with supporters of the mayor’s rival on Tuesday.

Police identified the fatality as Ryan Calventas, Sales’ bodyguard and supporter, and the wounded as Roger Ragasa, a supporter of Sales’ rival, and Marlon Sales, her brother-in-law. Hit by a stray bullet was Remedios Asuncion, a bystander, whose house is near the area where the clash took place.

“This is a sad incident,” said Senior Supt. Gerardo Ratuita, acting Ilocos Norte police chief. “The candidates had previously signed a peace covenant,” he said.

Bacoor case

In Bacoor City, Cavite, a nephew of a Liberal Party candidate for mayor survived an ambush also on Tuesday in an attack that the victim’s relatives are linking to the elections.

The victim, Ferdinand Malvar, 48, was driving his car at past 1 a.m. in Barangay Zapote when he was attacked, according to Supt. Ronaldo Mendoza, Bacoor City police chief.

The victim is the nephew of Edwin Malvar, who is running for mayor in Bacoor.

In Camarines Sur, police detained eight men for violating the election gun ban.

SPO2 Randy Solano, spokesperson of the Naga City police, identified the men as Peter Cruzata, Dennis De Leon, Eduardo Magdaraog, Vicente Pabit Jr., Paterio Culata, Ellias Clavicillas Jr., Teejay Rodriguez and Grege Salcedo.

Bodyguards

Solano said the men worked as bodyguards for a politician in Camarines Sur but did not identify the politician.

Lawyer Fatima O. Gados, Naga City election supervisor, said the eight men are facing charges of violating the election gun ban and illegal possession of firearms. Reports from Delfin T. Mallari Jr., Maricar Cinco and Juan Escandor Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon; and Cristina Arzadon, Inquirer Northern Luzon