CITY OF MALOLOS – The town of San Rafael in Bulacan province has been categorized as an election area of concern, due to the killing of three village leaders in April, according to lawyer Mona Campos, Bulacan provincial election supervisor, on Thursday (May 10).
Former village chair Rodolfo Venturina, 77, of Barangay Salapungan was shot dead on April 27 by motorcycle-riding gunmen. The gunmen also wounded his 75-year-old wife, Anabella.
On April 24, Mabalas-balas village chair Rodrigo Rodriguez was shot dead while buying rice at a store.
On April 1, Easter Sunday, Mabalas-balas councilman Jaime Vasallo was also shot dead. He was running for village chair.
The police have augmented San Rafael’s police force for next week’s polls, Campos said./lb