Village exec killed in front of family

CALAPAN CITY, Philippines – A barangay councilor who is a political coordinator of a mayoral candidate was shot dead in front of his wife and daughter in Victoria town, Oriental Mindoro, Thursday night, police said yesterday.

Amado Villafando Umali, 55, was killed past 8 p.m. inside their house in Sitio Core Housing, Barangay Loyal by armed men wearing camouflage uniform.

The victim, a distant relative of incumbent Gov. Alfonso Umali Jr. and a cousin of Nacionalista Party mayoral candidate Lito Malabanan, was shot in the back of his head.

Witnesses told police the gunmen identified themselves as members of the Army who were allegedly out to search Umali’s house for weapons.

But when Umali asked the armed men to show them a search warrant, the suspects reportedly said they were New People’s Army (NPA) rebels and shot the victim.