Vice-mayor, bodyguard killed in ambush in northern Philippines

MANILA: Unidentified gunmen peppered the car of a town vicemayor with bullets in the northern Philippine province of La Union yesterday morning, killing him and his bodyguard on the spot.

Local police said Balaoan town vice-mayor Alfred Concepcion sustained multiple gunshot wounds but his daughter, the incumbent mayor, Aleli Concepcion who was also in the car, survived the ambush.

One of their security escorts was also killed in the attack, according to the police.

Quoting the police, Xinhua news agency said the ambush occurred about 8.20am local time while father and daughter were on the way to the municipal hall.

The Concepcions are seeking re- election in the 2019 mid-term elections.

Alfred is the latest local official to be killed in La Union.

On Oct 1, Mayor Alexander Buquing of Sudipen town was shot dead while on the way home with his wife.

His wife was also wounded in the attack.

On Monday, Philippine National Police director- general Oscar Albayalde said the police was looking into links between some politicians and gun- for-hire groups, ahead of the 2019 mid-term electionstoelecthalfofthemembers of the senate, new members of the House of Representatives and local provincial, town and village officials.

Albayalde said the police would also carry out ‘aggressive operations’ to control the thousands of loose or unlicensed guns in the country in the hands of gun-for-hire groups.

The number of political killings is increasing in the Philippines in the run-up to the May 2019 election.

Many of the victims are seeking re- election in the local levels. The official campaign will begin in February next year. — Bernama