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Candidate for councilor shot dead in La Union


A man running for councilor in the upcoming elections in May was shot dead by motorcycle-riding gunmen Sunday evening in San Fernando City in La Union. Danilo Nisperos Sr., 59, died while receiving medical treatment at Bethany Hospital in San Fernando City, said Ilocos regional police spokesperson Superintendent Jovencio Badua on Monday. The police recovered five spent shells and five slugs of a still unknown type of firearm from the scene of the crime. Nisperos was killed despite the implementation of the nationwide gun ban in connection with the May elections. Investigation was ongoing as of posting time to determine whether the Nisperos' killing was politically-motivated. “Flash alarms were sent to other police stations for the possible arrest of suspect/s,” Badua said. The incident happened a day after a mayorial candidate in Marcos town, Ilocos Norte, was shot dead by also unidentified motorcycle-riding men. The two killings were latest additions in the string of crime that may be connected to the upcoming elections. Last December 15, Mayor Ruperto Martinez of Infanta, Pangasinan, was shot in the head and chest in front of his house; on December 18, barangay chairperson Roger Dumalasa from Camarines Sur was wounded while his wife Jenny was shot dead as they were heading home from a gathering. As of February 22, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has arrested 1,138 gun ban violators: 1,034 civilians, six soldiers, 13 policemen, a member of the Bureau of Fire Protection, 14 government officials, 62 security guards, and two Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit members. Still, some armed groups managed to slip through the gun ban. On January 26, armed men fired shots during a robbery at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City, causing panic among mall goers. On January 28, an unidentified gunman shot dead a businessman in San Juan City shortly after the victim withdrew a large amount of money from a nearby bank.   Meanwhile, six armed men robbed a money transfer service outlet in Parañaque City last January 29 and escaped after shooting it out with responding policemen. Under the gun ban, which is being enforced since January 13, all permits to carry firearms are suspended. Only uniformed law enforcers are exempted. — Marc Jayson Cayabyab/KBK, GMA News

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