Surigao Norte killings not poll related, says Caraga top brass

By Ben Serrano,
Correspondent

Camp Rafael Rodriguez, Libertad, Butuan City — The still unsolved killings of two candidates for Municipal Councilors in the towns of Tagana-an and San Francisco, all in the province of Suirgao del Norte, on Jan. 11, a day after start of election period and early dawn of Feb. 15, respectively, were not electionelated, top officials of the Police Regional Office 13 said in a press conference, Thursday.

The killings of a close-in bodyguard and two supporters of Liberal Party mayoral bet of Bacuag town, Ryan ‘Bombom’ Orquina, last February this year in Bacuag, Surigao del Norte were likewise not electionelated saying they were all about personal grudges, Caraga’s top brass added.

In a press conference here Thursday, Police Regional Office 13 Regional Director Chief Supt. Rolando Felix and  Surigao del Norte Provincial Police Director Senior Supt. James Mejia said aside from the killings involving candidates and supporters in Surigao del Norte province were all of personal nature, old grudges and other motives like business.

“…create a form of political tension that could eventually upset the electoral process of a certain area or areas. Thus, those killings in Surigao del Norte since they are all caused by personal motives or other causes. Per our PNP guidelines and assessments, all did not fall as election related incidents,”  Mejia told reporters.

On Jan. 11, a day after start of election period, retired policeman Danrevel Tuldanes Etac, 62, running for councilor in the Municipality of Tagana-an in Surigao del Norte was shot dead by riding-in-tandem suspects

After the shooting death of Etac, an LP coordinator of Bacuag and a close-in bodyguard of an LP mayoral bet of another Surigao del Norte town was shot dead at a beachfront in Barangay Poblacion, Bacuag, Surigao del Norte on Jan. 16.

Bacuag Police identified the victim as one Alen Ranay Silagan, 57, married, resident of Poblacion Bacuag.

A week later, two companions of Silagan, also political supporters and workers of Orquina were shot dead in same area at the beachfront property of the Orquinas.

Early dawn of Feb. 15, after attending the Barangay Valentine’s Day party evening of Feb. 14, official LP candidate for councilor Ernesto Retorta, 55, was also shot dead in front of his home after coming from the Barangay-sponsored Valentine’s party by suspected assassin using .45 cal pistol with silencer

Said killings are still unsolved amidst calls, challenges from surviving spouses and children of the victims including relatives that perpetrators be identified and be brought behind bars adding the killers still posed dangers to present intense political rivalries in the province.