By Ronron
May 21, 2007
The reelected Mayor of Bacarra in Ilocos Norte and one of his councilmen were shot dead by an unidentified suspect while attending a town festivity on Sunday night in the town proper.
Police Regional Office 1 Director Chief Supt. Leopoldo Bataoil said Mayor Philip Velasco and Sangguniang Bayan member Marcelino Andaya were pronounced dead on arrival at the Gov. Roque Albano, Sr. Memorial Hospital where they were rushed after being shot at close range at around 11pm last Sunday.
Bataoil said Velasco and Andaya were with other local officials at the Municipal Auditorium on Sunday night in celebration of the Bacarra Farmer’s Day when the lone suspect casually approached the mayor and shot him several times.
Velasco sustained four gunshot wounds while Andaya sustained one, causing their deaths.
Bataoil said security personnel of Velasco opened fire at the suspect, who managed to fire back before he was eventually neutralized.
Hit in the brief shootout were councilwoman Shirley Ong-sin, Josefina Galapon, and nine-year-old Ronron Laguban, said Bataoil.
Bataoil said the suspect, who is about 5’4” in height, remains unidentified as of press time.
Police could not immediately say the motive behind the attack as they are considering all possible angles such as politics, personal, or work-related.
They are not yet aware too if Velasco has received threats against his life prior to the incident./DMS
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment