Outgoing village captain killed, three companions wounded in Cavite shooting incident

By Ronron
November 4, 2007

An outgoing village captain was killed while two of his watchmen and a friend were hurt after they were shot by unidentified suspects on Saturday night in Cavite province, police said Sunday.

The fatality was identified as Dante Felismino, 52, the outgoing chairman of Barangay Fatima 1 in Dasmariñas town, while the wounded victims were identified as Renato Saylog and Anastacio Salarda, both watchmen, and Saturnino Buenolirao, Felismino’s 72-year-old friend.

Police said Felismino was seated in front of the barangay hall of Fatima 1, together with Saylog, Salarda, and Buenolirao, when two unidentified suspects armed with a long firearm approached and fired at them at around 9pm.

Felismino sustained multiple gunshot wounds while the three others were hit with stray bullets.

The suspects, meanwhile, immediately escaped by running towards a suspected getaway motorcycle parked from a distance.

Police said Felismino was declared dead on arrival at the De La Salle University (DLSU) Medical Center.

Scene of the crime operatives recovered from the shooting scene 28 empty shells of caliber 5.56.

Police are still investigating if the incident is related to the recently concluded barangay elections, although initial information suggests otherwise, noting a peaceful conduct of voting at Barangay Fatima 1 last October 29.

Felismino’s wife, Elsie, is the newly proclaimed chairman of Barangay Fatima 1.

“The Dasmarinas Municipal Police is still conducting dragnet operation for the apprehension and identification of the suspects,” a police report said.

Based on the latest record of the Philippine National Police, there are already 73 election-related violent incidents (ERVI’s) all over the country as of 10pm of November 3 since the election period began last September 29.

These incidents have resulted in the death of 38 people, the wounding of 34 others, and the loss of one who was abducted.

Among those killed were eight barangay chairman candidates, five barangay kagawad candidates, and 10 incumbent barangay officials. Among the wounded, on the other hand, are four barangay chairman candidates, four barangay kagawad candidates, and eight incumbent barangay officials.

Although the figures could still increase as the election period finally ends on November 13, the PNP has been saying that this year’s barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections will probably go down to history as the most peaceful ever.

This is because in the 2002 local elections, there were a total of 159 ERVI’s that resulted in the death of 75 people and the wounding of 69 others./DMS