Rep. Dilangalen's staff slain

Cotabato City, Philippines. A political affairs assistant of Rep. Didagen Dilangalen of the lone district of Shariff Kabusuan, a newly-created province in the ARMM, was slain yesterday at about 6:45 pm.

The victim was identified as Edna Apolinario, 52, a resident of this City and a staff of Congressman Dilangalen for more than ten years already.

The victim was driving a green multi-cab vehicle along the busy Sinsuat Avenue this City when she was fired upon by motor-riding assailants who were already tailing the victim from the time she left her house.

The victim, Edna Apolinario, was also coordinator for more than a decade of Dilangalen's socio-economic and scholarship projects for poor communities in the 37 villages in the city and the 11 towns in Shariff Kabunsuan.

Senior Superintendent Willie Dangane, city police chief, said Apolinario was driving a green multicab with village councilor Nitz Herrera when motorcycle-riding gunmen overtook them along Sinsuat Avenue at around 6:40 p.m.

Dangane said the assailant fired at Apolinario with a .45 caliber pistol, hitting her in the head and other parts of body.

Herrera was not hit but suffered bruises and injuries due to broken windshields, he said.
Herrera said Apolinario had never mentioned threats to her life.

"She was very friendly, hardworking and had no known enemies," Herrera said, adding that he did not notice that the suspects were tailing them.

Apolinario was popular for her involvement in Dilangalen's scholarship programs for poor but deserving Muslim and Christian students in his congressional district. Among the recipients of the scholarship program are SK Officials whom Congressman Dilangalen had promised to benefit after his grandson by a first cousin won as SK Federation President in this City.