Former mayor shot dead in Negros Oriental

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 27) — The former mayor of Ayungon town, Negros Oriental, is the latest casualty in a string of violence in the province.

Edsel Enardecido, 60, was shot dead in his house at around 2:30 a.m. Saturday. Police said the gunmen shot the victim several times, also killing his cousin, Leo Enardecido.

The former mayor lost his bid to be first district board member in the last elections.

Enardecido was killed in Ayungon, the same town where four police officers were slain allegedly by armed communist rebels on July 18. President Rodrigo Duterte has put up a ₱3 million bounty for the arrest of the culprits.

Last Thursday, the principal of Guihulngan Science High school, also in Negros Oriental, was killed by unidentified gunmen. Arthur Cordevilla Bayawa and his sister Ardale Cordevilla Bayawa, a regional official of the Department of Education, were attacked in their home.

Less than an hour after, armed men shot Romeo Arbole Alipan, chairman of Barangay Buenavista, which is also in Guihulngan town.

READ: 3 dead as string of violence continues in Guihulngan, Negros Oriental

The police have yet to issue a statement on whether these killings are related.