Poll bet’s husband shot dead in Manila

A former policeman whose wife is a candidate for barangay councilor in Sampaloc, Manila was shot dead by motorcycle-riding assailants on Saturday.

James Rivera, previously assigned with the Tondo police station and the Manila Police District (MPD)’s support unit, was killed on the last day of the campaign for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections. Rivera’s wife, Maria, is running for

kagawad in Barangay 475 in Sampaloc. Investigation showed that the victim was talking with his 19-year-old daughter, Christine Joy, and niece along Cristobal street when a man and a woman on a motorcycle opened fire, according to case investigator Police Officer 1 Danilo Kabigting.

Rivera died at the scene. His daughter and niece were wounded.

Witnesses said the assailants fled after the attack.

Police have yet to consider if the incident was election-related.

Rivera had been deployed to Mindanao after he went on absent without leave last year, Kabigting said.

Probers said they were checking closedcircuit television footage in the area for the possible identification of the suspects.

Cops undergo drug tests

Meanwhile, policemen tasked to secure the barangay and SK elections in eastern Metro Manila underwent drug testing on Friday.

National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Camilo Cascolan was the first to submit his urine samples for drug testing at the Eastern Police District (EPD) headquarters in Pasig. Cascolan said the move aims to ensure that police officers deployed for the elections are drug-free.

EPD director Chief Superintendent Reynaldo Biay led the signing of a peace covenant by around 300 candidates.

Police delivered yesterday the ballot boxes to be used in Pasig, Marikina, Mandaluyong and San Juan City.

In Manila, Mayor Joseph Estrada advised voters to go to the polling precincts early to avoid long queues.

Estrada urged the electorate to vote barangay officials who are not involved in illegal drugs.

The mayor will cast his vote at the Burgos Elementary School in Sta. Mesa.

Estrada has ordered MPD director Chief Superintendent Joel Coronel to deploy additional policemen to polling centers to ensure peaceful and orderly elections.