Tribal vendetta eyed in slay of Kalinga gov bet

TABUK, Kalinga –Tribal vendetta, aside from politics, is being eyed by authorities as motive in the killing of Kalinga’s gubernatorial bet Rommel Diasen here on April 7.

Regional police spokesman Supt. Joseph Adnol bared this saying police probing Diasen’s killing had noted the assassination of former Judge Milnar Lammawin two years ago which they believed also stemmed from tribal disputes.

Lammawin was killed by gunmen from Mountain Province where Diasen has his native roots. Although a long-time resident of Tabuk, Kalinga, where he served as town mayor for three consecutive terms since 1986, Diasen is a native of Mountain Province.

Adnol said Diasen, incumbent vice governor of the province, was killed in the village where some of the relatives of Lammawin also live. Diasen, the gubernatorial bet of administration Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, was shot at close range by an unidentified man in the middle of a campaign speech here in Barangay Magnao.

The suspect, armed with Cal. 45 pistol, went up the stage where Diasen was delivering a speech and shot him six times at close range in the head and body. Cordillera police director Chief Supt. Raul Gonzales had formed Task Force Diasen to look into the political angle in the gunslaying.
Adnol said witnesses identified the gunman but added it might take time to solve the killing. As this developed, political parties belonging to the ruling administration coalition said they are closing ranks to protect their candidates during the campaign.

Authorities have recorded some 46 election-related violent incidents since January but the biggest surge in the killings came last month starting in the days prior to the start of the campaign for local and congressional candidates on March 29.

Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Gabriel Claudio and National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales in separate interviews earlier said most of the victims of political violence were administration candidates.

But Gonzales said there were no indications the killings were part of a concerted attack against the administration. Claudio said members of the ruling coalition were asked to contribute to the conduct of peaceful and orderly elections in May 14.

He said the government would show its firmness in bringing the assassin of Diasen to justice.

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