MAGSINGAL, Ilocos Sur – Four suspected bodyguards of two rivals for the town’s mayoralty post died during an alleged encounter between the aides of the said political rivals at Sitio Danglas, Barangay Labut, here, early Saturday morning.
Two of the fatalities were identified as Lerryphol Torda and Bagani Recto while the other two dead armed individuals.
Police authorities said two of them were killed on the spot and the rest died at the hospital while undergoing treatment for the gunshot wounds that they sustained during the reported shootout.
Further, probers are still ascertaining which political camps did they fatalities belong.
The police are still on the site of the encounter conducting an investigation. Other cops are also guarding the house of one of the politicians.
The investigators recovered several spent shells for M16 assault rifle which was believed to have been used by the armed men in the said gun fight. Still in the area is a van and a motorcycle used by the men who were involved in the encounter.
The law enforcers are yet to establish the details of the shootout. But according to the reports and comments of some residents in the area, one of the group allegedly attacked the residences of the aides of one of the candidates that caused the other camp to retaliate which resulted in the running gun battle.