By Nestor P. Burgos Jr.
Inquirer

ILOILO CITY, Philippines–An outgoing Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chair was shot dead in her home in Lambunao town, Iloilo province, Tuesday evening, the first violent incident in the Visayas involving a youth council candidate less than a week before the barangay (village) and SK elections.

Bona Marie Catedral, 22, died from a gunshot wound in the left chest after she was shot at close range at around 6:30 p.m. at her family’s residence in Barangay Jayubo, 15 kilometers from the town proper. Lambunao is around 48 kilometers north of Iloilo City.

The victim is the fourth of five children of Lambunao Vice Mayor Pancho Catedral. Her remains were brought to the Solano Funeral Homes in Lambunao.

Investigators are still verifying reports that an unidentified gunman approached and shot the victim as she was about to close a window of their house.

Senior Inspector Elmer Armada, Lambunao police chief, said they were still investigating the circumstances of the shooting.

Armada would not confirm if politics was being eyed as angle in the shooting. He also refused to reveal the probable motives of the crime saying they were still in the early stage of their investigation.