Reelectionist barangay chair gunned down in Sarangani

GENERAL SANTOS CITY--Police are eyeing several angles, including politics, behind the killing on Thursday night of a reelectionist barangay chair in Kiamba town in Sarangani Province.

Police Officer 2 Jeramil Gloria, an investigator of the Kiamba municipal police station, identified the victim as Reynardo “Rico” Amador, the incumbent chair of Barangay Tambilil.

He said Amador was walking in front of his house past 10 p.m. when he was shot by unidentified gunmen.

“He had just arrived at that time and was shot before he could enter (his house),” he said in a radio interview.

The victim sustained gunshot wounds on his head and jaw from a caliber .45 handgun and was declared dead upon arrival at a local hospital.

Gloria said they are currently investigating whether or not the incident was politically-motivated and connected with the May 14 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

He said Amador was on his first term as barangay chair and had filed his candidacy for reelection.

Investigators are also determining if the victim had received threats on his life prior to the incident.

The killing of Amador is the first possible election-related incident recorded in Sarangani province.

The Police Regional Office-12 has not yet named any watchlist area or hotspot in the province and other parts of the region in connection with the scheduled polls. (PNA)