Murder charges were filed against the two alleged assassins of a supporter of outgoing Mayor Santiago Barcelona in Escalante City, who were gunned down on June 8.

Inspector Mateo Maguate, Escalante police chief, yesterday identified the suspects now facing murder charges as Edgar Mellama who has a pending case for illegal possession of firearms, and rebel returnee Macario Pedrano

. Mellama and Pedrano were tagged by the police as the gunmen of Kagawad Romeo Agaton of Brgy. Malasibog, Escalante City, based on the testimonies of the wife of the victim.

Initial police investigations show that the suspects reportedly are identified with a politician in Escalante City. The assassination of Agaton, a rebel returnee-turned barangay kagawad, came three weeks after Eliseo Cumawas, also a supporter of Barcelona, was also shot dead by a group of unidentified armed men in Brgy. Libertad, Escalante City, a day before the May 14 elections.

Police investigations showed that Agaton and Cumawas were among the three persons, including Barcelona, who had been warned that they would be assassinated.

The assassins of Cumawas remain unidentified as of this time, police said.

Barcelona who has reached his last term as mayor of Escalante, was elected as the city vice mayor. His wife, Alicia Barcelona, who had run for mayor, lost in the recent election.

Two incidents of harassments were also reported in Brgys. Buenavista and Tamlang, Escalante City, with two barangay officials, also supporters of Barcelona as victims, two days before the election, police also said.*GPB

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