SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — The La Union police have identified two persons of interest in the killing of former 2nd District Representative Eufranio Eriguel, his two civilian bodyguards and the wounding of eight civilians in Barangay Capas here Saturday night.
Police Supt. Marlon Paiste, information officer of the Police Regional Office in Ilocos (PRO-1) in an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA) Monday, said they cannot yet reveal the names of the persons of interest.
He disclosed that a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) has been formed by the Police Provincial Office as mandated by PRO-1, to fast-track the probe on the case.
“We have already gathered information from six eyewitnesses, who were present during the shooting as we continue to investigate to determine the motive,” Paiste said.
Eriguel was speaking before a barangay gathering around 7 p.m. Saturday when shot by unidentified males on board a black Mitsubishi Montero and white Toyota Innova vehicles. He and his bodyguards, Mac Roel Tobera and Bobby Ordinario, were pronounced dead on arrival at La Union Medical Center.
Paiste said the eight wounded civilians were brought to Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center here.
He said the shooting is yet to be validated as election-related incident, “nonetheless, more policemen have been deployed in the area as augmentation for tighter security”.
Barangay Capas was not among the 23 listed election watchlist areas (EWAS) in the region, according to Paiste.
“Of the 23 EWAS in the region, five barangays are from La Union; two from Ilocos Norte; 11 from Ilocos Sur and five from Pangasinan,” he added.
Meanwhile, La Union Governor Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” R. Ortega III conveyed his condolences to the family of Eriguel.
“I am conveying my condolences to the family of my good friend Congressman Franny and I am assuring his family that I will do everything to bring all those responsible to justice. I want my (provincemates) to know that I will never allow violence in our beloved province,” Ortega said in a statement. (Hilda Austria/PNA)
