Gunfight at Abra campaign sortie leaves village exec, SB bet dead
BAGUIO CITY — A Barangay chairman and a Sangguniang Bayan (SB) bet in Lagangilang, Abra, were killed after a campaign sortie sparked a fistfight that led to a gunfight on Monday evening.
Lagangilang town police said the incident occurred at Barangay Nagtupacan, Lagangilang town at around 6:50 p.m. while an SB bet Manzano Bersalona Agdalpen was campaigning with co-candidates of his electoral affiliation Team ASENSO when he suddenly came near and punched a certain Rommel Apolinar who was standing near them.
Mr. Apolinar reportedly fled to Barangay Chairman Lou Salvador Claro, 57, a retired police officer, for refuge, prompting the village chief to head to Mr. Agdalpen in an attempt to pacify him.
Probers further found out that Mr. Agdalpen pushed Mr. Claro, drew a pistol and began firing at the village chief.
Police added that when Mr. Claro was hit, a still unidentified suspect fired back at Mr. Agdalpen.
The SB bet was rushed to the Abra Provincial Hospital in Bangued, Abra’s capital, while the barangay chairman was rushed to the Seares Hospital, also in Bangued.
Both were declared dead-on-arrival.
The incident according to the Lagangilang police was only reported to them almost an hour after the incident. — Artemio A. Dumlao
