Another Isabela village chief shot dead

ILAGAN, Isabela – Another village official was shot dead by still unknown suspects on Friday, barely two weeks after a barangay chairman was slain in one of the interior towns here.

Police formally filed over the week murder charges against a town councilor and two others for the Aug. 2 killing of a policeman here.

Police said that they are still establishing the motives and the identities of the suspects in the killing of councilman Nestor Duque of Barangay Flores, Naguilian town around 10 a.m. Friday.

Superintendent Antonio Marallag, police intelligence officer, said that the victim and a nephew were walking to their farm when two unidentified men approached them and asked for some assistance, including food.

The victim’s nephew, while on his way to get food and water for the strangers, heard successive shots nearby. He then rushed back to where he left his uncle only to find him already dead on the ground with traces of gunshot wounds on the head, neck and stomach.

Murder and frustrated murder charges were formally filed before a regional trial court here over the week against Alicia town councilor Erick Bumatay, councilman George Paringit and one Romeo Mariano, suspects in the killing of PO3 Jonathan Abuan and wounding of SPO2 Ludovico Delmindo, both of the Alicia police.

The cops, along with another colleague were reportedly driving back to Alicia proper when their vehicle was suddenly cut by the suspects’ Toyota Innova van. – Charlie Lagasca