Five suspects eyed in La Union mayor’s slay — PNP

Police have identified five persons of interest linked to the ambush of Sudipen, La Union Mayor Alexander Buquing, who was killed with his driver and a police officer on Monday.

“As of now lima na po ‘yung suspects doon. We have identified persons of interest based doon sa accounts doon sa area,” Senior Supt. Heminio Tadeo Jr., acting director of Police Regional Office 1, said in a press briefing on Thursday.

(There are five suspects now. We have identified persons of interest based on the accounts of witnesses in the area.)

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

He said, however, that they cannot yet disclose the identities of the suspects since the investigation is still ongoing.

Tadeo said the suspects are related to Buquing in politics and business.

Despite the incident, Tadeo said politics is not intense yet in La Union, and that the killing could just be coincidental with the approaching midterm elections.

Meanwhile, Department of the Interior and Local Government Officer-in-Charge Eduardo Año earlier said he will recommend La Union to be declared an election hotspot. /ee