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Friday, March 29, 2024

Poll violence: 3 killed, mayor hurt in Cebu

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Three people, including a candidate for vice mayor, were killed while a Cebu town mayor and her two security escorts were wounded when unidentified gunmen opened fire on their van in Barangay Linao in Talisay City at 6:10 p.m. Tuesday.

Killed in the attack were Ricardo Reluya Jr., husband of San Fernando town Mayor Lakambini Reluya; the driver of the vehicle, Allan Bayot, and staff member Ricky Monterona.

Mayor Reluya and two of her bodyguards were taken to the Talisay District Hospital where they were in stable condition, said Supt. Ma. Aurora Rayos, spokesperson of the Central Visayas Police.

Mayor Reluya is seeking reelection in May while her husband was running for vice mayor.

Reports said Reluya’s party was traveling to Barangay Banawa when the ambush occurred.

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Interviewed at her hospital bed, Mayor Reluya said that attack could have been politically motivated.

Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde has created a special task group to investigate the killings.

He gave Cebu City police officials two weeks to solve the case and warned they would be relieved if they failed to do so.

He also ordered Chief Supt. Debold Sinas, regional director of Western Visayas, to provide 24-hour security to Mayor Reluya and her wounded staff.

“I am confident that in due time, we will achieve a breakthrough in our investigation under the same investigative framework that we applied in similar cases of violence against elective government officials,” Albayalde said.

The Palace condemned the attack,

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