Witnesses say car blocked slain Erice aide's path

MANILA, Philippines - At least two witnesses in the killing of a political leader of Caloocan City Vice Mayor Edgar Erice told police yesterday that apart from the two motorcycle-riding gunmen, another car with several occupants blocked the vehicle the aide was driving.

Superintendent Ferdinand del Rosario, task force spokesman, said they are still validating witnesses’ statements that while Samuel Delana, 44, was driving a vehicle bearing Erice’s image and slogan, a motorist maneuvered to park along the main road of Phase 5 in Bagong Silang at around 10:15 a.m.

Witnesses said that two men on a motorcycle approached the driver’s side of Delana’s vehicle and shot the victim, who died on the spot from at least five gunshot wounds in the head and body.

Nelda Dioquino, 54, who was in the vehicle driven by Delana, was hit in the left shoulder. The gunmen and the occupants of the car that blocked the victims’ vehicle then sped away.