Soldier, barangay councilman gunned down

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga, Philippines – An Army sergeant and a barangay councilman were gunned down in Orion, Ba­taan last Friday, police said.

Senior Superintendent Arnold Gunnacao, Bataan police director, said Sgt. Marlon Soriano, an intelligence officer of the Department of National Defense arsenal in Limay, Bataan, and Bernardo Esmabe, 46, councilman of Barangay Nagwaling, Pilar town, were about to leave a cockpit arena in Orion on a big bike when they were fired upon by two men, killing them on the spot.

Gunnacao said Soriano, who reportedly served under retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan in the 24th Infantry Battalion, could be the gunmen’s target.

Police recovered 13 caliber .45 spent shells at the crime scene.

Gunnacao said he has ordered the police chief of Orion to dig deeper into the shooting incident.