PAMPLONA
\nThree people have been arrested over the murder of a Philippine provincial governor and eight others, authorities said Sunday, adding another suspect was killed in a shoot-out.
\nSeventeen people were also wounded in the audacious attack on Saturday in the sugarcane-growing heartland of the Philippines.
\nAt least six gunmen armed with rifles and wearing military-style uniforms opened fire in the governor\u2019s home in Pamplona municipality in the central province of Negros Oriental.
\nGovernor Roel Degamo became the latest victim of a recent rash of assaults on local Philippine politicians.
\nTwo of the three suspects arrested were former soldiers who were dishonorably discharged several years ago, the Philippine Army said in a statement.
\nA fourth suspect was killed in a shootout in a plantation on Saturday night, police spokesman Lt. Col. Gerard Pelare told journalists.
\nPelare said about 10 suspects were involved in the attack. Authorities believed they were still on the island after ports were closed to prevent their escape, he said.
\nThe previous death toll had been put at six but was raised to nine late Saturday, police said. Thirteen people were hospitalized for their wounds, while four others were treated for minor injuries.
\nNegros Oriental is one of two provinces on Negros island, which is the center of the nation\u2019s sugar industry and home to some of the country\u2019s wealthiest landowners as well as some of its poorest farm workers.
\nDegamo, 56, was at least the third politician to be shot in the Philippines since last year\u2019s general election.
\nThe Supreme Court declared him last month the rightful winner of the contest for the Negros Oriental governorship following a recount that unseated his rival, who had previously been proclaimed victor.
\nDegamo had campaigned for President Ferdinand Marcos during Marcos\u2019 run for the top job.
\nMarcos has condemned the \u201cdastardly and heinous\u201d assassination of his political ally and has sent his top officials, including police and military chiefs, to investigate.
\nAuthorities presented evidence at a news conference on Sunday gathered from the suspects, including high-powered firearms and camouflage uniforms, and vowed to solve the case.
\n\u201cWe will capture the mastermind, I assure you that,\u201d Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PAMPLONA Three people have been arrested over the murder of a Philippine provincial governor and eight others, authorities said Sunday, adding another suspect was killed in a shoot-out. Seventeen people were also wounded in the audacious attack on Saturday in the sugarcane-growing heartland of the Philippines. At least six gunmen armed with rifles and wearing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":317724,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-317690","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n