A mayoral candidate alliedwith President Gloria Arroyo was shot and killed today in a centralPhilippine town in violence in the run up to congressional and localelections, witnesses said.
Mr Jesus Sibia was allegedly shot with a pistol by hisopponent incumbent mayor Mr Sebastian Serag in the town of SanJoaquin in Iloilo province, witnesses told local station ActionRadio.
Mr Sibia, of the Reporma (Reform) Party, had just returned home atdawn from a rally when a carload of armed men headed by the currentmayor arrived at the house which also served as his headquarters.
The victim went out to confront the group and was shot at closerange, witnesses said. He suffered head and body wounds and diedwhile being treated at a hospital.
Mr Serag, who turned himself up to the police, was not immediatelyavailable for comment.
The attack brought the death toll in the run up to Monday'selections to 51 with at least 69 people wounded.
The Reporma party is allied with the administration People PowerCoalition being the political party of Ms Arroyo's chief aide, Mr Renatode Villa, when he ran for president in 1998.
Mr Serag is a supporter of jailed former president Mr Joseph Estrada.
AFP