Barangay chairman running for city councilor shot dead in Bacolor, Pampanga

Unidentified assailants killed a barangay chairman in Pampanga who was running for city councilor last weekend.

The victim was identified as Alvin Mendoza, the barangay captain of Barangay Alasas in San Fernando City and a candidate for city councilor, according to Raffy Tima's report on 24 Oras on Thursday.

Mendoza was shot last Saturday by gunmen on motorcycles while riding in an SUV. He was reportedly on his way to his party's headquarters when the shooting occurred.

The barangay chairman was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.

The victim's family suspected Mendoza had been ordered killed.

The killing was not yet declared an election-related violent incident. However, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said that it would continue its assessment of the areas of concern ahead of the May 9 polls.

“More or less we have 104 areas in the country under so called watchlist namin yung aming tinitignan mabuti (which we are carefully monitoring). We declare [it under] Comelec control kung mayroong (if there is a) recommendation ang (from the) PNP (Philippine National Police) and AFP (Armed Forces of Philippines),” Comelec Commissioner George Garcia said. —Richa Noriega/VBL, GMA News