Gunmen killed on Wednesday a vice mayor of a town in La Union and wounded his daughter, who also happens to be the town mayor, along with five others in a morning ambush.
Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar D. Albayalde said the suspects shot dead Alfred Concepcion, vice mayor of Balaoan, La Union, during the ambush around 8:22 a.m. at Barangay Antonino.
Also killed during the ambush was Michael Ulep, Concepcion’s bodyguard.
Concepcion, his daughter, Aleli Concepcion, who is the mayor of Balaoan, and their party were on their way to the Balaoan municipal hall, when they were waylaid by suspects along the Balaoan-Luna Road.
Concepcion and his party were onboard two vehicles, a Toyota Innova with plate number AOG-966 and a Hyundai Starex van with plate number SHZ-467.
Both the father and daughter are running for reelection in next year’s midterm polls.
The gunmen, who were armed with automatic rifles, also wounded the mayor and five others.
“I have been informed that a province-wide dragnet operation is underway, while an all-points bulletin has been raised to all municipal police stations to possibly intercept the suspects,” said Albayalde.
“Additional security has been provided to Balaoan Mayor Aleli Concepcion, who survived the ambush and is now undergoing treatment at Lorma hospital,” he added.
A report from Senior Supt. Ricardo Layug, provincial police director of La Union, said the suspects were onboard a Toyota Rav 4.
Albayalde said the Provincial Mobile Force Co. and SWAT of La Union are leading massive dragnet operations in the towns of Bangar, Sudipen, Bacnotan, Santol and San Juan, all in La Union.