BY: CHARLES NIKKO LIMON

A campaign rally turned deadly in the municipality of Lagangilang, Abra, after a fistfight between two councilor candidates escalated into a fatal shooting incident on the night of April 7.

The chaos began when candidate Rommel Apolinar was allegedly punched by fellow candidate Manzano Bersalona Agdalpen Jr. Apolinar reportedly left to inform Barangay Captain Lou Salvador Claro of the altercation.

Upon returning, Apolinar was again punched by Agdalpen, prompting a physical retaliation.

During the scuffle, Agdalpen allegedly pulled out a firearm and attempted to shoot Apolinar, but the gun reportedly malfunctioned.

He then pointed the weapon at Barangay Captain Claro, and this time the gun fired.

The barangay captain managed to flee but was gunned down moments later by Agdalpen’s driver, Joselito Aurelio, and three other unidentified individuals.

Agdalpen was also shot during the incident by an unknown assailant and was rushed to the Abra Provincial Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.

Police later arrested Joselito Aurelio.

Authorities are still investigating the identity of the gunman who shot Agdalpen and the cause of the initial altercation.

The Abra Police Provincial Office has 10 days to determine whether the case will be classified as an election-related incident.

The office has condemned the violence and is working with other agencies to resolve the case.

So far, only two incidents in Abra have been confirmed as election-related among the 21 shooting incidents recorded since the start of the election period.