Widowed after assassins executed her husband three years ago, a congresswoman claimed on Monday, July 12 that she has become the latest target of an assassination plot to be carried out by a “gun-for-hire” group operating in La Union.
She hinted that politics could be behind the plan to kill her as it was expected to be carried out months before the 2022 National and Local Elections.
Eriguel urged the PNP and the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a thorough and immediate investigation on the alleged plot and “identify and apprehend all personalities” involved.
However, she failed to reveal how the PNP came upon the conclusion that she is under threat of assassination.
“I take these reports very seriously. As the threat on my life has become apparent most especially that the 2022 National and Local Elections is upcoming,”she said.
“The uncovering by the Philippine National Police (PNP) of the Magpali group and the assassination plot on me and on two municipal officials is reminiscent of the violence and killings that occurred last 2018,” she said.
It was in 2018 that her husband, former Rep. Eufranio “Franny” C. Eriquel was felled by assassins bullets.
“He was brutally murdered on May 12, 2018, in Brgy. Capas, Agoo, La Union just barely two (2) days before the 2018 Barangay Elections, by a group of men armed with high powered firearms. These perpetrators remain unknown and continue to be at large,” she recalled.
Following the death of her husband, Eriguel said Mayor Alexander Buguing of Sudipen was ambushed and killed on October, 2018.
A month later Alaoan Mayor Aleli Concepcion and Vice Mayor Al-fred Concepcion were also ambushed. Mayor Aleli survived the attack but Vice Mayor Al-fred died.
“Prior to all these, two (2) weeks before the 2016 National and Local Elections, an IED bomb exploded in Brgy. Sta. Barbara, Agoo, La Union targeting the convoy of Cong. Franny. One was killed in the incident and several others were seriously injured,” said the lady solon.