Negros Oriental governor, five others shot dead in Philippines

Aljazeera reported that a provincial governor in the central Philippines and five others have been shot dead by unknown gunmen in the latest attack against local politicians.

Police said six suspects carrying rifles and dressed in uniforms similar to those worn by the armed services entered the governor’s home in Pamplona town and opened fire.

Roel Degamo, governor of Negros Oriental province, and five others were killed in the shooting, his widow said. Police said in a statement on Saturday that the conditions of the hospitalised victims were unknown.

Degamo, 56, is the latest to be targeted in the Philippines’ long history of attacks on politicians, and is at least the third to be shot since local elections last year.

President Ferdinand Marcos condemned what he described as the “assassination” of political ally Degamo and promised to bring swift justice to his killers. Last month, the Supreme Court declared Degamo the rightful winner of the contest for the Negros Oriental governorship following a recount that unseated his local rival, who had previously been proclaimed the victor.