Batangas vice mayor's aide, pal shot dead

BATANGAS , Philippines  – A 33-year-old close-in bodyguard of the vice mayor of San Juan, Batangas and his companion were shot dead while a barangay councilman was wounded Tuesday night, police said.

Senior Superintendent Alberto Supapo, Batangas police director, said the victims, Arvin Sayat, a security aide of San Juan Vice Mayor Arthur Marasigan, and Ruel Jimenez, 34, had just finished drinking liquor in an eatery in Barangay Mabalanoy and were about to board a car when they were waylaid by two armed men at around 7 p.m.

Police said the two were killed on the spot, while barangay councilman Melchor Tejada, who was just passing by the area, was hit by a stray bullet and rushed to the nearest hospital for treatment.

Witnesses said the attackers fled on foot.

Investigation revealed that the shooting was motivated by a personal grudge and had nothing to do with politics.

Lawmen recovered a slug and 18 empty shells from a caliber .45 pistol at the crime scene. – Arnell Ozaeta and Ed Amoroso