Ex-village chair and LP campaigner killed in Maguindanao

UPI, Maguindanao -– A former village chair of a remote village here was shot dead by
still unidentified gunmen in what police believed could be election related.

Lorenzo Talma,
former village chair of Nangi, Upi, was heading for home along with a certain
Odin when two men riding tandem on a separate motorbike opened fire on them at
past 8 p.m. Monday.

Talma, a
person with disability (PWD), was killed on the spot while Odin was hit on his
shoulder, according to Inspector Jesill Cabusas, deputy town police chief of
Upi.

Cabusas said
investigation was still going on as to the real motive but observers believed
it was politically motivated. The suspect quickly fled after the shooting.

Talma, a known
supporter of reelectionist Mayor Ramon Piang, had just attended a political rally
of reelectionist Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
in Barangay Poblacion before he was gunned down.

At the time of
his death, Talma is Piang’s chief campaigner in Barangay Nangi. (Ferdinandh
Cabrera)