Governor, five others shot dead in latest attack on Philippine politicians

Police were searching for 10 suspects, including the six gunmen, who fled the scene in two SUVs and a pickup truck before abandoning the vehicles in a nearby city.

“The perpetrators were in full battle gear when they shot the governor several times,” Lieutenant-Colonel Gerard Ace Pelare, a police spokesman, told The Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Latest in string of political killings

Mr Degamo, 56, is the latest target in the Philippines’ long history of attacks on politicians, and at least the third to be shot since the 2022 local elections.

The Supreme Court in February declared him the rightful winner of the contest for the Negros Oriental governorship following a recount that unseated his local rival, who had previously been proclaimed the victor.

Mr Degamo had also campaigned for Mr Marcos in his own candidacy for president in 2022.

Mr Mamintal Adiong, governor of the southern province of Lanao del Sur, was shot and wounded in February in an attack that killed his driver and three police escorts.

That same month, the vice-mayor of the northern town of Aparri, Mr Rommel Alameda, and five others who were travelling with him were shot dead in a highway ambush.

In the bloodiest politically motivated ambush on record, the leaders of a powerful southern clan and about two dozen followers were sentenced to life in prison for a 2009 attack on supporters of a gubernatorial election rival in Maguindanao province.

The attack left 58 people dead, including the politician’s wife and relatives, along with 32 journalists and media workers who were covering the race.