Five shot in Philippines election campaign

Press, 18 January 1986, Page 10

Five shot in Philippines election campaign

NZPA-AP Manila Gunmen have killed five people, including two local leaders for the Opposition candidate, Corazon Aquino, in the first serious violence of the Philippine Presidential campaign. A man in fatigues asked for a ride from Jeremias de Jesus in Capas, Tarlac province, on Thursday and then emptied an Armalite automatic rifle into the Opposition campaign leader, killing him and his driver, an opposition spokesman said. Military authorities confirmed the incident, but described Mr de Jesus only as a former henchman of a dead Communist commander.

Jesus Miranda, the Aquino campaign chairman in Santa Rita, Pampanga province, was walking with two companions in Angeles city when unidentified gunmen shot and killed them. Raul Contreras, Mrs Aquino’s press officer, denounced the killings as repression applied against those opposed to the Government. ■

Violence in Philippines elections ordinarily kills scores of people. Security agents yesterday had to carry a visibly tired President Ferdinand Marcos to the stage as he campaigned for the February 7 election.

Mr Marcos, aged 68, had

difficulty raising his hands to flash a victory sign in response to supporters chanting “Marcos still,” as he was carried to the stage by bodyguards in Dagupon north of Manila.

He appeared to be in pain and breathing heavily, an Agence France-Presse correspondent said. No explanation was available, but during a speech earlier in the day, Mr Marcos apologised to the audience for having a cold. The incident came as Opposition leaders sought an official disclosure on his health, alleging that his aides physically propped him ’up whenever he campaigned.