allesennogwat
05-04-2007, 06:51 AM
Six relatives of a congressional candidate were shot dead and three others wounded in the Philippines early Friday in the deadliest attack so far in the run-up to elections, police said.
The attack happened on a remote mountainous road in the troubled northern province of Abra when political rivals opened fire with automatic weapons on the convoy of Cecille Luna, mayor of Lagayan.
"We are looking at (the) political aspect because those killed and wounded are relatives of congressional candidate (Luna)," said provincial police chief Senior Superintendent Alexander Pumecha.
Luna, who is running for Congress, was not in the sport utility vehicle when it was fired upon by a group of gunmen who fled on foot after the attack, Pumecha added.
Luna said on local television that the vehicle was ambushed shortly after she left it by men who thought that she was still inside.
In an interview with ABS-CBN television, Luna said six cousins and nephews in the van were killed.
Pumecha confirmed that six people were killed and three others wounded in the attack. All were relatives of Luna, he told reporters by telephone.
Luna blamed the attack on a political rival, Abra governor Vicente Valera, who is running against her in the May 14 elections.
"No one would want to kill me but our governor," she said in the interview.
Another Valera rival, Luis Bersamin and his bodyguard were gunned down outside a church wedding in Manila before the campaign started on December 16. Police are still investigating the killings.
Several dozen people have been killed in the current campaign. President Gloria Arroyo has deployed the army in certain areas to prevent more bloodshed.
Just hours before the Abra attack, a candidate for town council was shot dead by communist insurgents in Daraga town, southeast of Manila.
The attack happened on a remote mountainous road in the troubled northern province of Abra when political rivals opened fire with automatic weapons on the convoy of Cecille Luna, mayor of Lagayan.
"We are looking at (the) political aspect because those killed and wounded are relatives of congressional candidate (Luna)," said provincial police chief Senior Superintendent Alexander Pumecha.
Luna, who is running for Congress, was not in the sport utility vehicle when it was fired upon by a group of gunmen who fled on foot after the attack, Pumecha added.
Luna said on local television that the vehicle was ambushed shortly after she left it by men who thought that she was still inside.
In an interview with ABS-CBN television, Luna said six cousins and nephews in the van were killed.
Pumecha confirmed that six people were killed and three others wounded in the attack. All were relatives of Luna, he told reporters by telephone.
Luna blamed the attack on a political rival, Abra governor Vicente Valera, who is running against her in the May 14 elections.
"No one would want to kill me but our governor," she said in the interview.
Another Valera rival, Luis Bersamin and his bodyguard were gunned down outside a church wedding in Manila before the campaign started on December 16. Police are still investigating the killings.
Several dozen people have been killed in the current campaign. President Gloria Arroyo has deployed the army in certain areas to prevent more bloodshed.
Just hours before the Abra attack, a candidate for town council was shot dead by communist insurgents in Daraga town, southeast of Manila.