Gatchalian supporter shot dead

Three suspected hired guns gunned down an alleged follower of Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian in front of his house in Valenzuela City early yesterday.

City police chief Senior Superintendent Ranier Idio said the victim, Mariano “Nano” Santiago, 50, a resident of Barangay Mapulang Lupa, died of two bullet wounds in the head and neck.

Gatchalian said the killing could simply be a result of the victim’s personal dealings, adding “there is no political color here.”

“It seemed like the gunmen were for hire. But I can’t make a definite statement on the motive. But we condemn this brutal act. These are good people,” he said, referring to Santiago and his family.

Gatchalian said in a phone interview yesterday that Santiago’s family is close to him. “Nano’s brother, Ka Simeon, is a close friend. A daughter is also my wedding godchild,” he said.

Gatchalian appealed to the public to give information about the identity or whereabouts of the suspects.

There are reports that Santiago worked for Gatchalian during the past elections but this was denied by city hall officials who requested anonymity.

City public information chief Marither Menia said Santiago was neither city hall employee nor a political coordinator. She said the victim was, at most, only “an adviser of a tricycle group” in his area.

Inso Bogayan, City Tricycle Regulatory Unit chief, told The STAR Santiago was an unofficial adviser of the Paso de Blas-Mapulang Lupa-Ugong Tricycle Drivers and Operators Association.

Another city hall source said Santiago reportedly supported the incumbent president of the tricycle group in the last election.

Santiago was on his way to work and was walking toward his car at around 6 a.m. when he was shot twice with a .45-caliber pistol at close range by one of three unidentified gunmen.

The victim died while being rushed for treatment to the Manila Central University (MCU) Hospital due to his wounds.

Idio said the gunmen boarded a tricycle on Barangay Paso de Blas and told the driver to bring them to Santiago’s house in Barangay Mapulang Lupa.

They parked near the victim’s house. Two of them alighted while the other one served as a lookout while guarding the tricycle driver.

The two gunmen approached the victim’s neighbor and asked for Santiago. The neighbor pointed them to the victim, who was walking toward his car in the garage.

One of the gunmen approached Santiago and shot him twice at close range. The suspects fled aboard the waiting tricycle and alighted in Barangay Bagbaguin.

The Valenzuela City police invited yesterday the driver of the tricycle the suspects boarded, as well as the witness who pointed them to Santiago.

“We have now a possible motive but could not divulge it yet from our investigation is still ongoing,” Idio said.