ABC head, son, aide shot dead in Batangas

BATANGAS, Philippines – The president of a municipal Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) in this province, his son and a bodyguard were killed in an ambush in Bauan town early yesterday morning, authorities said.

Senior Superintendent Rosauro Acio, provincial police director, said ABC president Henry Adora, 45; his son Hanzel, 21; and bodyguard Armando Ladignon, 50, were cruising a road in Barangay San Miguel aboard a Mitsubishi Pajero when at least three men on a green L-300 van fired at them.

Adora’s helper Antonio de la Rosa escaped unscathed in the ambush. The ABC chief and Ladignon died on the spot while the young Adora passed away while being treated at the Bauan Doctors Hospital for multiple gunshot wounds.

Police said the victims had just come from a cockpit arena when they were attacked some 300 meters away from Adora’s house at around 3:20 a.m. yesterday.

Acio said they were eyeing business rivalry as the main motive behind the killing. Adora was reported in the board of directors of the Bauan Cockpit Arena.

Superintendent Alfredo Dangani, Bauan police chief, though said they were also looking into the reported rivalry among local clans, noting that Adora was a close ally of Bauan Mayor Ryan Dolor.

A police task force was formed to handle the case.