Village councilor killed, another hurt in shooting incident in Guimaras

By Ronron
January 30, 2008

A village councilor died while another was hurt after they were shot by undetermined number of suspects Tuesday night in Guimaras province in central Philippines, police said Wednesday.

The slain victim was identified as Efren Gajardo, 40, councilor of Barangay Bulwangan in Jordan town, while his wounded colleague was identified as Vicente Magpusao, 35.

Jordan Municipal Police chief Insp. Raymond Cruz said the two councilors were riding a motorcycle when shot at around 6:30 pm Tuesday in Barangay Bulwangan. Magpusao was driving the motorcycle, while Gajardo was the back-rider.

Cruz said the gunfire came from higher ground, beside the road. “The suspect or suspects must have hid in the bushes because no one saw him or them,” he said.

Cruz said Gajardo died on the spot due to a fatal gunshot wound on the head, while Magpusao sustained a slight injury in the head.

He said recovered from the crime scene were 13 empty shells for an M16.

Cruz said they are initially looking at revenge against Magpusao as the motive for the attack because the said councilor claimed to be involved in a land dispute.

“We believe he (Magpusao) is the target… He said that three days ago, he sensed that somebody was following him,” Cruz said.

Based on Magpusao’s claim, Cruz said the police invited three persons who are involved in the land dispute against the councilor.

“We subjected them to paraffin test just to make sure if any of them fired a gun,” he said. The result has yet to come out.

But Cruz said they are also not dismissing the possibility that Gajardo could be the target because the latter’s family has yet to give their statement to police.

“We don’t know yet if Gajardo has enemies too,” Cruz said./DMS