Barangay polls candidate succumbs to cardiac arrest

DAVAO CITY – A candidate for barangay chairman here died of cardiac arrest after casting his vote for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on Monday, police said.

Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spokesperson, Sr. Insp. Ma. Teresita Gaspan, said Amilbangsa Manding passed away while taking a rest at a hotel here on Monday afternoon.

Sr. Supt. Alexander Tagum, DCPO chief, said Manding died of an apparent cardiac arrest, but Gaspan said the family did not give details as to what caused the candidate’s death.

“What’s certain was that he was taken to a hotel to rest shortly after voting around 2:45 p.m.,” Gaspan told Inquirer, adding family members brought Manding’s remains to his hometown in Lanao at midnight.

A former village chief, Manding was attempting a comeback by challenging incumbent punong barangay Alemudin Usman in Barangay (Village) 23-C. Both leaders were known Duterte supporters.

In the run-up to Monday’s elections, tension escalated in the village as supporters of the two rival candidates clashed on Saturday, resulting in several injuries.

As a result, scores of soldiers and police were deployed at the coastal barangay, which was listed under category 1 of election areas of concerns, to prevent further violence.

Usman had won the race.   /kga