Councilor, two aides survive slay attempt

By Dexter A. See

BANGUED, Abra — A councilor and his two aides cheated death after the firearm used by two men, believed to be hired assassins, jammed in Calaba South here morning of Dec. 17.

The failure of assassin’s firearm to fire caused a commotion, forcing the suspects to flee.

Senior Supt. Charlo Collado, provincial police director identified the target of the assassination try as Bangued councilor Danny Adame, Elenito Adame, bodyguard of the councilor; and Zosimo Castillo, the councilor’s driver.

Initial police investigation showed the three persons were on board the councilor’s owner-type jeep and were in Barangay Calaba South when two still unidentified armed men suddenly approached them and started asking something.

As soon as they replied to what they were inquiring about, one of the suspects suddenly pulled out a Cal. 45 pistol tucked on his waist, pointed it to Adame and pulled the trigger but the pistol jammed.

Adame and his aides ran to safety.

Apparently sensing danger, the two suspects parted ways and scampered away.

Reacting to insinuations that the assassination attempt was the start of intense political rivalry in the town, Collado said the incident was an isolated case, thus, it should not be linked to the elections.

Adame is reportedly a close ally of Bangued Mayor Dominic Valera, who is being challenged in the mayoralty race by Abra Rep. Cecille Luna’s son Ryan.

In the 2007 elections, at least 27 people were killed in the province.

Police appealed to concerned sectors in the province not to test the mettle of the police and military since they will be forced to implement the full force of the law if they insist on using harassment to force voters to vote for them.