Palace condemns killing of Pangasinan town Mayor

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MANILA– Malacanang on Sunday condemned the killing of Urbiztondo town Mayor Ernesto Balolong Jr. on Saturday vowing to bring perpetrators to the bars of justice.

Presidential Communications Operations Office secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. in an interview over state-run dzRB radio said that the incident is currently being investigated by authorities led by the Philippine National Police.

“It is necessary to track down the culprits and have them punished,” Coloma said in Filipino.

“We cannot allow crime like this to prevail in our country,” he added.

Reports showed that aside from Mayor Balolong, his police escort and an electrician were also killed in a town convention center where the mayor was supposed to hold his 25th wedding anniversary party this Sunday.

His wedding anniversary was to be held at the same time with the wedding of his son, Urbiztondo Councilor Voltaire Balolong.

At around 8:50 a.m., Saturday, armed men in a Toyota Innova drove up and opened fire on the mayor.