DILG wants La Union declared as ‘election hotspot’

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) officer-in-charge Eduardo Año said he will recommend La Union to be declared as “election hotspot,” following the killing of Sudipen Mayor Alexander Buquing that could be related to politics.

Buquing was ambushed by unidentified assailants in Bangar town on Monday night. His companions — PO2 Rolando Juanbe and driver Boni Depdepen — were also killed, while his wife, Vice Mayor Wendy Joy Buquing, was wounded in the incident.

“Yes, with that, I will recommend,” Año said in a press briefing on Wednesday when asked if he would suggest La Union to be tagged as election hotspot.

“Itong kay Mayor Buquing, ang nakikita ng PNP (Philippine National Police) ay politics (The PNP sees politics as motive in Mayor Buquing’s killing). But we will go where the evidence will lead us,” he added.

READ: La Union town mayor, along with driver and cop, killed in ambush

Año said Buquing’s ambush indicates that La Union is becoming similar to other election hotspots like Abra and Mindanao. He said, however, that the DILG has to wait on the assessment of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and PNP regarding the incident.

According to Año, additional security personnel will be deployed in the area once it is declared an election hotspot.

Buquing is the 11th mayor killed under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. Six vice mayors have also been killed since Duterte assumed office. For Año, the killings of local executives are already “alarming.”

Police were eyeing politics and business as possible motives for the murder of Buquing. Police said politics-related killings usually spike before the elections. The country will be holding its midterm elections next year.

A gun-for-hire syndicate could be behind the ambush, according to police. /kga