HERMOSA, Bataan — A recent mayoralty candidate in the last local elections here was killed by unidentified assailants at the backyard of his residence, Friday morning.
Police Major Jeffrey Onde, Hermosa police chief, identified the victim as Honorio Samaniego, 56, former village chief of Barangay Almacen here.
Rey Bautista, a house helper said the victim was washing his hands when he was shot several times by one of the assailants wearing bonnets about 8 a.m.
Samaniego suffered bullet wounds in the head and other parts of his body from a still unknown caliber, police said.
Investigators said the suspects were seen alighting from a van before approaching the victim’s house. Witnesses said Samaniego had just come from a farm near his house when attacked.
Samaniego joined the mayoral race in 2019 but lost to incumbent Mayor Jopet Inton. He served for two terms as a village chief of Almacen.
According to his relatives, Samaniego had no known enemy in the community but was allegedly involved in some land disputes and other related issues in his town.