Cops to determine if councilman’s killing is election-related violence
The Police Regional Office 6 said in a statement investigators have yet to determine whether the killing of reelectionist councilman Rolando Lopines of Brgy. Datagan, Calinog is election-related.
Lopines was shot by an unidentified assailant using a 12-gauge shotgun in front of his minor son at around 10 p.m. Thursday evening.
He was on his way home after campaigning when he was attacked.
Lopines’ wife, Helen, said her husband told her about a threat on his life days before his death.
Investigators are still looking for leads to Lopines’ killer, the PRO6 said.
Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol Jr. said he has directed the Regional Investigation and Detection Management Division to hasten their probe to determine if the Lopines case can be classified as election-related violent incident (ERVI).
There are parameters in classifying a violent incident as election-related, he said.
According to PRO6, ERVIs are those events /happenings which could affect/ disrupt the electoral proceedings in the area or create a form of political tension that could eventually upset the electoral process, not only in the site of the incident but also in the surrounding areas on election day. These incidents are those that occur within the electoral period and can be classified as grave/serious in nature, and those that are less grave/less serious in nature.
ERVIs considered as grave and serious in nature are murder/homicide, serious physical injuries, kidnapping/hostage taking, bombing/grenade throwing, snatching of ballot boxes and other election paraphernalia with life threatening to victims, grave threats and intimidation and coercion with the use of firearm and explosives, and destructive arson of structure and equipment such as burning of polling centers, campaign headquarters, and vehicles used.
Considered as less grave and less serious in nature are mauling, destruction of campaign materials and the like, grave threats and serious intimidation and coercion with the use of other devices other than firearms and explosives, less serious physical injuries, malicious mischief, and snatching of ballot boxes and other election paraphernalia without life threatening to victims.*
