News Update Armed men strafe, throw grenade at Masbate local exec’s house

Five days before the May 10 elections, unidentified armed men on Wednesday night threw a grenade and fired at the house of a local official in Masbate, one of the Philippine provinces notorious for election-related violence. No one was reported hurt. In a text message on Thursday, Superintendent Eliciar Bron of the Region 5 police said motorcycle-riding men launched the attack against Juan Duan, an official of Aguada village in Placer town, about 11:30 p.m. Bron said Duan is a staunch supporter of mayoralty candidate Joshur Judd and vice-mayoralty bet Napoleon Arnaiz. Local police are still looking into the incident, Bron said. Masbate province is one of the areas where partisan private armed groups abound.

In January, the government formed an independent commission to disband private militias. However, the Zeñarosa Commission has yet to divulge to the public its progress reports. — with Sophia Dedace/RSJ
The market process in the fishpond industry in Masbate, 1979 (Agricultural marketing report)On birds from Luzon, Mindoro, Masbate, Ticao, Cuyo, Culion, Cagayan Sulu, and Palawan (Bulletins of the Philippine Museum)
Soil survey of Masbate Province, Philippines;: Reconnaissance and erosion surveys, (Soil report)

News Update Masbate town mayor, 5 others face murder raps

An incumbent mayor of Placer town in Masbate, his two police escorts, and three others are facing murder charges in connection with the killing of a supporter of the local official's rival last week.

The filing of a murder complaint against Placer Mayor Judd Lanete before the Masbate Provincial Prosecutors Office was based on an in-depth investigation on the killing of Carlo Cencero last April 18, said Bicol regional police spokesman Superintendent Eliciar Bron.

Lanete is seeking re-election.
Others included in the charge sheet are the mayor's police escorts — Police Officers 1 Gilbert Tampus Pantingan and Cyril Cordova, and political allies Barangay Kagawad Junjun Malazarte, Barok Tan and Bebot Dobungko.

Bron said three witnesses pointed to Patingan as Cencero's gunman.
Bicol police have recommended the recall of all of Lanete's security escorts.
"In the meantime, additional police and military forces have been deployed in Placer to address the situation and prevent any further occurrences of election related incidents," said Bron.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is considering placing Masbate under Comelec control following recent violent attacks in the province.
Placing an area under Comelec control means that the Comelec commissioner to be assigned in the province would be the acting governor. It would also give the commissioner a say in running the province as well as all the law enforcement agencies in the province. — with Johanna Camille Sisante/RSJ/LBG

Soil survey of Masbate Province Philippines: Reconnaissance and Erosion Surveys (Soil Report 33).