DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines – An incumbent municipal councilor in Umingan town was shot dead on Saturday evening, December 7.
The victim was identified as Ponciano ‘Onyok’ Onia Jr, who is also gunning for a reelection for the 2025 elections.
Initial investigation reveals the incident occurred at around past 7pm on Saturday.
Onia was driving an SUV on the way home to Barangay San Leon when he was waylaid by still-unidentified suspects.
Onia died on the spot, while his 2 companions — his employees — were unharmed.
Onia, aside from being an incumbent, is also the national president of the Abono Partylist.
The Abono Partylist, a farmer-centric political organization, won one seat during the 2022 elections, through Robert Raymund Estrella.
Abono Partylist is gunning for another attempt in the 2025 elections, with 10 nominees, namely Robert Raymund Estrella, Ronald Allan So, Antonio Muya, Pillar Onia (wife of Onia), Eddie Patawaran, Librada Flores, Leonardo Bernabe, Lito Arenas, Liberato Cabigas, and Oftociano Manalo.
Police are still probing the incident. – Rappler.com