NP condemns shooting of partymate in Surigao Norte

The Nacionalista Party on Wednesday condemned the shooting of its vice mayoral candidate inside his house in Taganaan town in Surigao del Norte. NP spokesperson Gilbert Remulla said village chief Wilbert "Dodong" Origines is in serious condition after sustaining three gunshot wounds in his stomach. Initial reports showed that around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, two unidentified men fired on Origines. The attackers fled immediately on a motorcycle. Origines, who was also the president of Association of Barangay Chairmen in Tagaanan, was rushed to Surigao Medical Center. In a press statement, Remulla said the NP is shocked and appalled by the assassination attempt on another candidate of the party. “Only politics can be the motive in the shooting of Brgy Captain Wilbert Origines. The attack is the second case of electoral violence in the past three days where NP candidates were targets," he said. Last Monday, village chief Joen Caniete was killed while six others were injured in a predawn ambush in Ilocos Norte. [See: Village exec killed, 6 others hurt in Ilocos ambush] “In this season of hope and coupled with the clamor for change in 2010, it is regrettable that these senseless acts of violence and impunity are setting the tone of the elections to come," Remulla added. He said the NP prays that all candidates for the 2010 polls realize that violence will not solve anything and will only send the country further away from the peace and prosperity it needs. The NP also reiterated its challenge to other political parties to manifest their commitment to honest and peaceful elections and renounce violence. - LBG, GMANews.TV