Romblon mayor, 2 aides hurt in ambush

CALAPAN CITY ,Philippines  – A joint police-Army team is pursuing armed men who ambushed and wounded the mayor of a remote Romblon town and his two aides last Monday afternoon.

In a report to the regional police command based here, Senior Superintendent Leo Tumolva, Romblon police director, said Mayor Festo Riano Galang Jr. of Cajidiocan town was on his way home together with his driver and a bodyguard when their vehicle was peppered with bullets at around 5 p.m. Monday.

Police said Galang’s vehicle was cruising the national road near a cemetery in Barangay Cambahao, Cajidiocan town when the ambush took place.

Galang and his driver, Jorge Rabino, sustained gunshot wounds in the left arm, while PO1 Erick Espartinez, the mayor’s security aide, was hit in the left and right shoulders.  

Galang was later airlifted by a military helicopter to Manila for further treatment. Rabino and Espartinez were reported to be in stable condition. – With Ed Amoroso, Cecille Suerte Felipe

Police investigators recovered two empty M-16 shells and a ski mask at the ambush site.

A police task force has been formed to probe the ambush. Politics was among the possible motives being looked into. – With Ed Amoroso, Cecille Suerte Felipe