Batangas mayor killed in ambush

Malvar, Batangas – A town mayor of the 3rd district of Batangas province was shot dead while three of his companions were wounded when they were ambushed by still unidentified suspects here yesterday morning, police said

Superintendent Flaviano Garcia Jr., Malvar police chief identified the victim as David Pamplona, 50, municipal mayor of Balete in Batangas.

Wounded were Pamplona ‘s driver identified as Jerson Diokno, househelpers Jonalyn Gonzalez Marilyn Pagayunan and Pamplona’s daughter Lorelyn, who were all being treated at Daniel O. Mercado Medical Center in Tanauan City, Batangas for bullet wounds. Pamplona’s daughter Lorelyn, 23 escaped unscathed.

According to report, Pamplona ‘s group was bound for Manila aboard a Nissan Exalta car (SFZ-219) when they were waylaid along the highway at Barangay Bulihan, a few meters away from the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) toll exit around 9:10 a.m.

Pamplona who was seating at the front passenger side was repeatedly shot by at least three suspects armed with M-16 armalite rifles before fleeing to an unknown direction aboard an unlicensed get-away car.

Dr. Glen Garcia said Pamplona succumbed to multiple bullet wounds on his neck and chest that resulted to multiple organ failure while at the emergency room of the hospital for more than an hour.

In an interview with The STAR, Pamplona ‘s wife Ludivina said her husband was a good man to deserve a brutal death. “Pulitika lang ang alam kong motibo sa pagpatay sa kanya,” Mrs. Pamplona said in between sobs. She, however, declined to elaborate more.

Pamplona, a member of the Lakas-CMD, was currently serving his last term as Balete town mayor. He won against mayoralty candidates Carding Tampia of Kampi and Wesceslao Nipay of the United Opposition in the last May 2007 election.

Sources said, Pamplona was apparently grooming his wife Ludivina to run for the executive position this coming 2010 local polls.

Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto strongly denounced the killing of Pamplona.

Incidentally, Gov. Vi has planned to convene a Peace and Order council for the province with Chief Superintendent Ricardo Padilla, Region 4 police director together with the entire Batangas police force on Feb. 20 before the incident happened.

“Actually, we’re already planning to set up a comprehensive security plan for the province after a series of crimes happened in a span of weeks in Lipa, Lemery and San Jose and unfortunately followed by Mayor Pamplona’s death yesterday” Gov. Vi told The STAR.