Church leader shot dead in Leyte

By Ronron
January 25, 2008

A pastor of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) was killed in an ambush last Wednesday morning in Abuyog, Leyte, police said yesterday.

The victim was identified as Felomino Catambis, 60, married, and a resident of Mahaplag town in said province.

Sr. Insp. Ismael Lantajo, police chief of Abuyog, said Catambis was driving his motorcycle when two suspects aboard another motorcycle followed him closely and shot him to death at around 7:30 am last Wednesday.

Lantajo said the incident happened at Sitio Catoogan, Barangay Balocawe in Abuyog.

He said the victim must be on his way to the UCCP church in Abuyog town proper when the ambush happened.

Lantajo said Catambis died on the spot due to multiple gunshot wounds all over his body.

The suspects immediately left the crime scene after the incident.

Recovered from the crime scene were nine empty shells and one slug for a caliber 9mm. Witnesses of the incident told police that the gunman was the back-rider of the tandem.

Lantajo said they are still at a puzzle as to the motive of the incident because they have not learned of any feud that Catambis is involved in.

He said Catambis could not also be a victim of political killing because he is not known to be a social activist./DMS