Communist rebels have shot dead a mayoral candidate and five other people in the central Philippines, despite peace talks with the government, officials said Saturday.
Jose Cardenas, vice mayor of Canlaon city and a mayoral candidate in national elections next month, was killed along with his sister and four aides in an ambush late Friday in Negros island, police said.
Three people were also wounded in the attack.
The gunmen shouted "long live the NPA," referring to the communist guerrilla's New People's Army, after killing Cardenas, who was a member of President Gloria Arroyo's ruling party.
As many as 17 candidates and campaign workers have been killed in violence related to the May 14 national polls, many of them by the insurgents, who have an 11,500-strong guerrilla force,
Talks to end the country's 32-year communist rebellion opened in Oslo, Norway, on Friday with both the government and the communists saying they were ready to lay their differences to rest, but ruled out a ceasefire -- BACOLOD, Philippines (AFP)
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