Note: Updates on Mayor Cesar Rafael’s murder here and the Abra explosion here.
***
From Philippine Star: The mayor of Paracelis town in Mountain Province was killed in an ambush yesterday, while an explosion rocked the home of a congresswoman in Bangued, Abra.
According to Senior Superintendent Joseph Adnol, Mountain Province police director, Mayor Cesar Rafael was driving in remote Sitio Sinigpit, Talitud, Paracelis town when five unidentified men fired at his vehicle.
Rafael died on the spot.
Members of the police mobile group were dispatched to the town to conduct an investigation and track down the suspects.
Meanwhile, Abra Rep. Cecille Luna survived an explosion that rocked her house in Bangued town at 7 p.m.
The congresswoman’s three sons – Lagayan town Mayor Jendrix Luna, barangay chairman and Bangued ABC president Ryan Luna and Cromwel Luna – and four others were wounded.
They were rushed to nearby hospitals but were later declared out of danger by doctors. Ryan was taken to the Abra provincial hospital while Jendrix and Cromwel were brought to the Searex Emergency hospital.
Cordillera police director Chief Superintendent Eugene Martin said they are investigating whether the explosion was an accident or an attack against the Luna family.
Martin said he has taken the congresswoman to a safehouse secured by Abra policemen.
“Rep. Luna is now at an undisclosed place surrounded by police bodyguards,” he said. “We are still investigating the incident. But the blast was powerful because it destroyed the garage, which was converted into a receiving area.”
Reports reaching Martin showed that Luna’s sons were at the receiving area when the blast occurred.
The congresswoman was in the sala at the time of the blast.
Police have not identified the wounded workers.
The Cordillera police chief said the garage conatined firecrackers, which the family intended to use for the coming New Year revelry.
“Nobody saw someone throwing a lighted cigarette or a grenade in the area,” said Martin.
Responding elements of the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) of the Cordillera police are now sifting through the explosion site to gather evidence.
Luna defeated former Abra Gov. Vicente Valera in the congressional race in elections last May.
Valera is protesting Luna’s victory before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) main office in Manila.
Read related story at the Inquirer.
INFO SOURCE: Philippine Star
Grabe talaga yang mga warlords and warring politicos ng Abra. Super-backward, utak pulbura
Sayang, it’s a beautiful province pa naman.
This is worst brutal killing happened to the Mayor Rafael, grabe…200 bullets on his body, sourc:http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=109057. Hope and pray for the speedy trial and justice for the family.To the perpetrators, you can’t run and hide from your conscience and from the eyes of God. My sincerest condolence to the bereaved family of Hon.Caezar Rafael. He was a good leader, servant and sacrificed his life for the people of Paracelis for decades.
let us pray for PEACE ON EARTH… for 2008
I am so upset at the deadly business of politics deep in the Cordilleras.
Now, if the explosion in the Abra representative’s home was brought about by the hording of explosives, then there was contributory negligence on their part.
If instead it was a political matter, that should make folks rethink having all members join the family business of politics — bombing the family home would have served to ‘kill four birds with one stone.’
I had to scratch my head a couple of times when I read your topic captioned” Home of Abra Rep Bombed.”
I surmise that you’re referring to the solon’s HOUSE that was bombed-not the HOME.In the bes English usage, the structure or building is always called a HOUSE.The word HOME connotes familial ties.
That’s the difference in the usage of those two words.
I had to scratch my head a couple of times when I read your topic, captioned:”Home of Abra Rep Bombed.”
I surmise that you’re referring to the solon’s HOUSE that was bombed-not the HOME. In the best English usage, the structure or building is always called a HOUSE. The word HOME connotes familial ties.
That’s the difference in the use of those two words.
what r u a grammar police? blogs r d last place to go looking 4 d “BES” english usage whatever that means!!!!!
hay naku! KATANGAHAN! period.
good riddance. ang bilis naman yata ang balik ng karma? hehe!
Please don’t make away here in this blog guys. The author has his/her reasons for using home instead of house. In Philippine English naman kase there’s not much difference as long as naawatan di ba?what the heck…nagpapaliwanag lang po apo…
how dare you people of the Philippines to judge what had happened!! kayat u dam8 ti gulu? ibaga u lang ah!!! watch your words you people who has my comments!!!! just shut up!!!!!
watch out you’ll be fired!!!!!!
watch your words!!! just shut up>>> watch and learn we will revenge!!!
_akira_