17th Filipino Candidate Slain

MANILA — Four gunmen believed to be communist rebels killed a pro-government mayoral candidate today during a political rally, and another candidate for a provincial board was kidnaped, the military said.

Jose Geromo was approached by assassins and shot point-blank during a rally in Molave, about 500 miles south of Manila. The gunmen escaped. Geromo was the 17th candidate slain since campaigning began this month for the Jan. 18 regional elections. In northern Luzon, armed men believed to be communist guerrillas kidnaped Quezon Alejandro, a candidate for the provincial board in Ilocos Norte province.