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Armed men raid LU pol’s house; aide kills gunman
By Jerry Padilla

NAGUILIAN, La Union – The mastermind of a group of men who barged into the home of this town’s vice mayor to kill him before dawn July 6 is still being determined by police.

Vice Mayor Reynaldo Flores was not hurt as one of his security aides gunned down one of the intruders while responding policemen arrested two others.

Flores, who previously served as Naguilian mayor for three terms, said he suspected the incident was politically motivated.

Flores’ bodyguard Cleto Huliganga shot dead Mario Alcido, 28, as he, armed with a Cal. 45 pistol and his companions barged into the vice mayor’s residence in Barangay Natividad around 4 a.m.

Responding policemen collared two of Alcido’s companions, identified as Magno Menci and Bernard Alcido, as they tried to flee on board a Delica van.

Their cohorts were able to escape.

Flores, with the group of Mayor Abe Rimando, recently bolted the local chapter of the pro-administration Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino headed by former Rep. Tomas Dumpit Sr. and joined the Nationalist People’s Coalition group of Gov. Manuel Ortega.

After the incident, Flores requested the Explosive and Ordnance Division at Camp Florendo in San Fernado City in the province to check surroundings of his residence for any explosives that could have been planted there. Police initially theorized the suspects belonged to the “Acetylene Gang.”