MANILA, Philippines – Just a few hours before the polls open on Monday, May 8 for the 2016 Philippine elections, 7 people were shot dead and another was injured in an ambush in Rosario, Cavite.
P/Supt. Rommel Javier said in a radio interview that unidentified gunmen began shooting from a jeep and two motorycles at Brgy. Wawa 3, Rosario, Cavite at around 12:10 am.
"Wala pang witness na nakukuha para maituro kung sino ang nasa likod ng pamamaril. Ang lugar na ito ay malapit sa ilog, nasa boundary ng Tanza at Rosario. (There is no witness yet who will point who is the person behind the shooting. The incident happened near the river and the boundary of Tanza and Rosario)," Javier said in the interview.
"Ang narekober pa lang ay basyo pa lang ng mga bala (What we have recovered so far are shells of the bullets)," he added.
Although the motive is still unknown, Chief Inspector Jonathan del Rosario said the shooting took place in an "area of concern" where there were reports of heated political rivalries. (READ: Precincts open; Binay, Marcos early voters)
The special election violence monitoring task force earlier reported that 15 people had been killed in election-related incidents since the start of the campaign period last January 9.
But del Rosario told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that many other cases of violence have yet to be fully linked to the polls.
Incidents of violence also took place in some areas of the country.
Councilor of Dumanjug in Cebu, Ely Amadora, reported that on Sunday night, May 8, he was shot by the alleged goons of Vice Mayor Efren Guntrano "Gungun" Gica, who is running for mayor under the Liberal Party.
Amadora, who is seeking re-election under One Cebu, was unhurt. Gica, however, denied allegations, saying it was reelectionist Mayor Nelson Garcia of One Cebu who shot him.
An unverified news report from GMA also said that 1 was killed and another wounded in rifle grenade blast in Datu Unsay, Maguindanao on early Monday, May 8.
About 5.4 millions of Filipinos are expected to cast their votes on today, May 9 to choose the country's leaders from the Philippine president down to town councilors. – with AFP/Rappler.com