Asia-Pacific

6 killed in Philippine ambush

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-05-04 15:59

Six passengers of a Philippine town mayor's vehicle were killed in a violent ambush in the northern province of Abra on Friday, as the mayor was running for the coming election on May 14, local TV reported.

The ambush happened at around noon local time on Friday in Lagayan town, some 350 km north of Manila, when the sport utility vehicle of Cecilia Luna, the town's mayor was attacked by gunmen, GMA TV said, adding that the victims were all the relatives of the reelectionist candidate for Lagayan mayor.

Luna said she was not in the vehicle that her relatives were riding.

In the television interview, Luna blamed incumbent Abra Provincial Governor Vicente Valera for the ambush, saying "I can't think of anybody else who would do this. The governor has wanted me dead for some time."

Amid concerns about lawlessness in the area, the Commission on Election or the Philippines' national poll body earlier placed Abra under its control.

Poll-related violent activities have occurred frequently throughout the nation in recent days.