Air Force personnel shot dead in Batangas

By Ronron
August 20, 2007

A personnel of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) was shot dead on Monday morning by two unidentified assailants in Batangas province, police said.

The victim was identified as Sgt. Samuel Acar, 31, a PAF member assigned at the Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, and a resident of Barangay Lumang Lipa in Mataas na Kahoy town.

Batangas Provincial Police investigator PO2 Ernesto Chavez said in a phone interview that Acar was shot dead at around 6:30 am yesterday (Monday) at Barangay Manggahan in Mataas na Kahoy.

“He (Acar) was aboard his owner-type jeep, with plate number DST-856, when he was shot by two men riding in tandem on a motorcycle… He came from his house and was on his way to work,” Chavez said.

Chavez said Acar sustained multiple gunshot wounds all over his body, causing his instantaneous death.

Responding policemen from the Mataas na Kahoy Police Station recovered from the crime scene six empty shells and two slugs for a caliber 45, said Chavez.

Chavez said the motive for the killing is being investigated and the municipal police are looking at two angles at the moment.

Asked if the communist New People’s Army have a hand in the killing, Chavez said: “They (local investigators) are saying that it is quite remote. It would be like the last possible motive.”

Chavez said the killing possibly has something to do with personal, work or business issues of Acar.

“Mataas na Kahoy is not known as infested with NPA rebels because it is just near the center of the province, Lipa City, and Fernando Air Base,” Chavez said./DMS