Batangas vice mayor wounded in ambush

MANILA, Philippines - The vice mayor of Talisay, Batangas was seriously wounded in an ambush in front of a supermarket at a mall in Pasay City yesterday.

Superintendent Samuel Turla, Pasay City police deputy chief for administration, told The STAR that a police report identified the victim as Florencio Manimtim Jr., former mayor for three terms and now vice mayor of Talisay, Batangas.

Initial reports said Manimtim was shot in the back while standing outside a fast food restaurant at the corner of Harbor Drive and Sunset Avenue at around 11:30 a.m. The victim was rushed to nearby San Juan de Dios hospital where he is undergoing operation, dzMM reported.

The suspect reportedly fled on a motorcycle. Two men on foot who served as lookouts joined the gunman in fleeing, according to witnesses. A traffic enforcer said they tried to catch the suspects but did not succeed.

Pasay police took into custody the three security escorts of Manimtim.

“A hot pursuit operation is being carried out,” Turla said.

It was the second attempt on the vice mayor. The first was in August last year, while he was attending a funeral in Barangay Poblacion. One of his bodyguards died on the spot during the ambush.