Abra village council bet gunned down

A candidate for kagawad (village councilor) in barangay Bangbangcag, Bucay, Abra, was shot dead by motorcycle-riding gunmen 8:20 Tuesday morning at sitio Nagpasinan, Bangbangcag, also in Bucay.

The latest fatality in the already tense situation in Bucay and nearby towns in the northern province ahead of the barangay and SK elections on October 30 was identified as Catalino M. Turalba Sr.

Together with his son and namesake, Turalba was on board blue Motorstar 110cc motorcycle heading towards their village when two still-unidentified gunmen on board a black Pinoy motorcycle tailed them and shot the candidate twice using a pistol.

The victim was rushed to St. Therese Hospital in Talogtog, Dolores town in Abra and died there, said Corporal Vicsyd D. Manuel, investigator-on-case of the Bucay police.

The suspects fled to an unknown direction and are being pursued by policemen.

Although it alarmed Abra residents, the latest shooting incident “is still manageable”, promised Cordillera police director Brig. Gen. David K. Peredo. Measures have been instituted, including the deployment of 130 policemen, he added.

The series of events that led to the Turalba shooting has brought fear among the people in the province and a sense of helplessness as reports of armed men continue to roam around, residents and local officials told the police.

While the sight of uniformed personnel helps, a number of Abrenios clamored for further intervention of various groups and stakeholders to call out presence of violence in the province.

The Northern Luzon Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines is sending more soldiers to Abra, said Nolcom spokesman Major Al B. Pueblas.

“Depende sa density ng threat sa area. If the threat further worsens, more will be sent there,” the military official added.