BAMBANG, Nueva Vizcaya: The lady mayor in Pagudpud town in Ilocos Norte may have lost in the ballot count but the fight against her rival is not over yet.

Reelectionist Mayor Matilde Sales lost the recently held May 2013 elections but wanted another fight against her rival, incumbent Vice Mayor Marlon Sales, now mayor-elect, this time in the court of law.

Before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office, Matilde filed multiple charges against Marlon, also her brother-in-law, in connection with the killing of two of her followers.

Matilde’s complaint stemmed from the reported shootout between her campaign supporters and that of his brother-in-law’s group in the town’s poblacion a week before the elections on May 7 which resulted in the death of Ryan Calventas, Roger Ragasa and a bystander.

Calventas is Matilde’s aide while Ragasa is one of Marlon’s campaign leaders. The bystander who also sustained stray bullet wounds was identified as Remedios Asuncion whose house is near the place where the incident took place.

Police Supt. Jefrey Gorospe, Ilocos Norte police spokesperson, said the incident resulted in the immediate relief of Sr. Insp. Roger Digmayo, Pagudpud town police chief.

Gorospe said multiple charges filed against Marlon included homicide, frustrated homicide and attempted homicide. Also charged with Marlon for violation of election gun ban, grave coercion and grave threat is the mayor-elect’s running-mate, now Vice Mayor-elect Rex Benemerito.

Also included as respondents in Matilde’s complaint were identified as Steven Rocero, Wilson Laguanza and several John Does.