Ex-vice mayor, 2 others killed in Abra shootout

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – A former vice mayor of Dolores town in Abra, his policeman brother, and a bodyguard of the incumbent mayor were killed in a shootout reportedly triggered by a quarrel over a game of cards at a wake in Barangay Poblacion,  Dolores the other night.

Former Vice Mayor Dante Guzman, his brother Police Officer 3 Dindo Guzman, and Jun Cabanaoan, said to be a bodyguard of Dolores Mayor Robert Victor Seares, were among those killed in the incident that left three others wounded, Dolores police chief Senior Inspector Ricky Dangiwan said.

Two of the wounded were identified as Christopher Tordil and Cesar Zapata, an employee of the Abra electric cooperative.

PO3 Guzman was reportedly assigned with the municipal police office in Bangued.

Seares, reports said, was not at the crime scene during the incident. His two other alleged bodyguards identified as Jeffrey Borgonia and Christian Cortez were reportedly among those involved in the shootout.

Reports said the incident broke out after Cortez and the former vice mayor reportedy argued while playing card game.

Cortez surrendered after the incident while Borgonia escaped, Dangiwan told The STAR.

The former vice mayor did not run for any position in the last elections. His brother, David, ran but was defeated by Seares. – Raymund Catindig, Charlie Lagasca, Teddy Molina, Artemio Dumlao