A candidate for councilor in Nueva Ecija was shot dead by a motorcycle-riding gunman near his house Friday afternoon.
Supt. Amado Corpuz, police director of Central Luzon, identified the victim as Allan Joson, 42, a resident of Barangay Jolo, San Antonio town.
Corpuz said Joson was standing along the street a few meters away from his home when an unidentified suspect on board an orange Yamaha Mio motorcycle shot him.
Reports said the suspect had a black complexion, medium built and was wearing a bull cap and a red T-shirt.
“The Police Regional Office-3 strongly condemns the murder of councilor aspirant Allan Joson,” Corpuz said. An in-depth probe is being undertaken to identify, locate and eventually arrest the suspect, he added.
Joson was the first casualty in what appeared to be a case of political violence, two days after the deadline of filling certificates of candidacy passed for the 2019 midterm elections.
Corpuz said police have yet to established the real motive of Joson’s slaying.
“We are looking into all angles to establish possible motives and we are exerting all means to get to the bottom of this unfortunate incident,” Corpuz said.
“We assure the public, as well as the victim’s family, of our total commitment to ensure the immediate resolution of the case through proper investigation,” he added.
The entire PRO-3 extended its deepest condolences to the bereaved family, even as Corpuz solicited public support to prevent similar occurrences.
The Philippine National Police had already mobilized its forces, particularly in hunting down gun-for-hire syndicates and private armies, to ensure peaceful and orderly elections.