Rash of political killings alarm presidential palace

President Gloria Arroyo yesterday expressed alarm over the rash of killings of political candidates as she deplored the assassination of a mayoral bet in central Philippines Mindoro on Saturday.

"President Gloria Arroyo strongly condemns the slaying," her spokesman Ignacio Bunye said in a radio interview yesterday.

She has instructed a thorough investigation to find out the motive, arrest the killers and bring them to justice, Bunye added.

Bunye said the Philippine National Police (PNP) has direct responsibility in ensuring that such apparent incidents of political violence would not happen.

Philippine elections, especially among rivals vying for local posts, are notorious for violence.

"The PNP has procedures for candidates who receive direct threats and on how to help and provide security for them. I hope they can immediately study and act on such requests for protection," Bunye said.

Still, the President, who is committed to clean, honest, peaceful and orderly elections, took it upon herself to order an immediate investigation of the killing, he said.

Shot by gunmen on motorcycles Friday night after attending a campaign rally of the administration Coalition for Loyalty and Experience for the Future (K-4) was Vice-Mayor Jovy Magsino, according to newspaper reports. A companion of the K-4 mayoral bet, the K-4 secretary general for Mindoro Oriental, also died in the shooting.

On Friday Governor Erico Aumentado of the southern province of Bohol survived an assassination attempt by at least three gunmen. The governor and all four of his staff aboard his van were unhurt.

Aumentado, 63, was seated in front beside his driver and was on his way home after a hectic schedule when the suspects fired at them. The attack on Aumentado was claimed by communist New People's Army guerrillas.