Police form task force to get killers of PDP exec

By BEN SERRANO
Correspondent

BUTUAN City–Law enforcers yesterday formed a task force to investigate the June 1 killing of a politician in Trento, Agusan del Sur, identify and bring his killers to justice.

This came even as the PDP-Laban called on authorities to ensure justice for its slain member identified as Chito Mabunga. The victim headed the PDP-Laban in Trento.

Mabunga, 43, was proclaimed as one of the winners in May 9 race for seats in the Trento town council. He was killed near the market at the Trento town proper in the evening of June 1.

Trento police chief Senior Insp. Alex Celis said the councilor-elect was killed by two motorcycleiding gunmen with .45 cal pistols. The killers barged into Mabunga’s house and shot the politician who was a father of two.

Mabunga, would have assumed office as a town councilor on July 1, succumbed to six gunshot wounds. He was declared dead on arrival at the St. Francis Hospital.

Police said the victim was about to have dinner with his wife Rose and two supporters when the gun attack was carried out. The two supporters, identified as Alexis Arca and Rey Palma, were hurt, and Rose was unscathed.

Officers from the police regional office, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), and intelligence gathering units formed a task force to solve the case.

Celis said the task force was looking into several possible motives, including partisan politics, personal grudges, and business relations turned sour.

PDP-Laban vice president for Mindanao Charito Booc said authorities should look into the possibility that Mabunga was killed because of partisan politics.

Plaza said Mabunga was the chairman of PDP-Laban in Trento town.

“I abhor the killing of my friend,” said Plaza, adding that the victim had confided to her that he had received death threats and that his family suffered political harassment during the campaign period.