Provincial Governor & 5 Others Shot Dead by Unknown Gunmen in Philippines

Pamplona Town (Philippines): A provincial governor in the Philippines and five other people were shot dead by unknown gunmen on Saturday. Local police said, six suspects carrying rifles and dressed in uniforms similar to those worn by the armed services, entered the governor’s home in Pamplona town and opened fire.

Governor of Negros Oriental province, Roel Degamo, and five others were killed in the shooting. Provincial police spokesman Kym Lopez said the politician was distributing aid to constituents when he was shot dead.

Police said, they were searching for ten suspects, including the six gunmen, who fled the scene in two cars and a pickup truck before abandoning the vehicles in a nearby city.

President Ferdinand Marcos condemned the killings, describing it as an assassination of his political ally. Mr Marcos said, his government will not rest until they have brought the perpetrators of this dastardly and heinous crime to justice.

56-year-old Degamo is the latest target in the Philippines’ long history of attacks on politicians, and at least the third to be shot since last year’s local elections.