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2 more campaign supporters killed in N. Ecija


In spite of heightened vigilance after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) took control of the province, two political supporters were killed in separate ambushes in Nueva Ecija province Tuesday night. The incidents took place in San Isidro and Quezon towns in the province, within two hours of each other. GMA News' Saksi identified the victim in the first ambush as Alex Mempin, a councilor of Poblacion village in San Isidro town in Nueva Ecija. The ambush, staged by two men aboard a blue motorcycle, took place at about 7 p.m. Tuesday about 500 meters away from a Philippine National Police (PNP) station. Mempin succumbed to five gunshot wounds, three to the body and two to the head. Radio reports said five shells from a .45-cal. pistol were found at the crime scene. The assailants fled towards the direction of Cabiao town in Nueva Ecija. Policemen said the victim was a local leader of the Balane-Kampi party and a supporter of re-electionist Mayor Sonia Lorenzo. Initial investigation showed the suspects blocked the path of Mempin who was then going home, shot him repeatedly, then fled toward Cabiao town aboard a blue XRM-type motorcycle. He was on his way home carrying pizza for his children when the attackers struck. Lorenzo, in an interview with GMA News, said Mempin had received death threats during the past three weeks. She stopped short of accusing her electoral rival of perpetrating the attack, saying authorities still need to conduct an investigation. The second ambush took place at 9 p.m. in Quezon town in Nueva Ecija, claiming the life of Nestor Gonzales, 44, a driver-bodyguard of Lakas-CMD mayoralty bet Dennis Alejandro. The attack happened in the house of a local Lakas-CMD coordinator where Alejandro reportedly planned on having dinner. Radio reports said initially identified the house owner as Fred Hermoso. Initial investigation showed Gonzales was cleaning fish when he was shot. Police suspect the assailants may have mistaken him for the mayoralty candidate. Central Luzon regional director Chief Superintendent Ismael Rafanan told dzRH radio that was on his way to the site Wednesday morning. Nueva Ecija was placed under Comelec control following a deadly shootout between supporters of Jaen Mayor Antonio Esquivel and Rep. Antonino. - GMANews.TV

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