THE 2007 Midterm Elections in the province was generally peaceful. This was the overall assessment of Ilocos Norte provincial police director Roman Felix after the voting that took place on May 14. Though there had been slight tension caused by political harassment and alleged vote-buying in almost all towns of the province, including Laoag City, the elections for local and senatorial candidates went on smoothly here with the proactive effort put in by all concerned stakeholders of the community, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said. However a shooting incident was reported in Solsona, Ilocos Norte on the day of the elections as PO3 Rex Agamata was gunned down in a remote polling precinct in Barangay Catangraran, Solsona, Ilocos Norte, a 30-minute drive from Solsona proper. According to Felix they have not yet uncovered any motive for the shooting as he added that investigation is still ongoing. Agamata was shot at lest five times in the back and he was declared as “dead on arrival” at the Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital here in Laoag City. According to a witness, Agamata was in front of a polling precinct in Catangraran Elementary School when unidentified suspects approached him from behind and shot him at his back. The suspects immediately fled from the scene after the shooting. When asked if the shooting was election-related, Felix replied: “Possibly yes, but we can’t tell yet. The police is also looking at the insurgency angle. Agamata used to be with the 2nd Regional Mobile Group of the PNP but he was transferred to the Solsona police headquarters for the election period. Meanwhile, the Ilocos Norte police noted that the increased police visibility and establishments of various checkpoints in municipalities with intense political rivalries such as in Badoc, Banna, Bangui, Pasuquin, Piddig and Pagudpud, prevented any untoward violence. Before the onset of the official election period, Felix said he personally spoke with politicians around the province, enjoining them to maintain honest and peaceful elections. In a late breaking news, Felix annoucned that the Agamata shooting may be “personal” and not election-related as they earlier theorized. Leilanie G. Adriano
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