CALASIAO, Pangasinan—A La Union congressman survived a blast that struck his convoy at 9:30 a.m. in La Union’s Agoo town on Saturday.
An explosive device planted on a motorcycle was triggered when the convoy of outgoing Rep. Eufranio Eriguel drove through Verceles Street in the town’s Sta. Barbara village, about 50 meters away from his home.
The blast struck a back-up vehicle and seriously injured four of its passengers, including a police officer, SPO2 Jack Baguan, who is assigned to the Rosario town police station.
The injured were rushed to a local hospital in San Fernando City.
Baguan, Samuel Ofianza and Anthony Casem were in stable condition at posting time, but the explosion gravely injured Jovanne Cacayuran, who has undergone surgery, according to Senior Supt. Marlou Chan, deputy police director of the Ilocos region.
The rest of Eriguel’s party were evacuated to a safe place, and are currently in an undisclosed location, police said.
Lawyer Julius Torres, acting Ilocos director of the Commission on Elections, said they had yet to determine if the attack was election-related.
Eriguel is not running for a post. His wife, Agoo Mayor Sandra Eriguel, is seeking the congressional seat. Their daughter, Stephanie Eriguel, is seeking the town’s mayoral post. CDG/RC
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