P’sinan education exec, husband gunned down

CALASIAO, Pangasinan, Philippines - A police task force is working to identify suspected hired assassins responsible for the ambush-killing of an education district supervisor and her husband and the wounding of a school principal Monday afternoon in Barangay Macabito this town.

Lolita Rancudo, 60, district supervisor of Calasiao II, and her husband, Rolando, 61, was shot dead by two motorcycle-riding men, investigator PO3 Percival Olieca told The STAR.

Susan Espinoza, 44, principal of Songkoy Elementary School here, was hit in the right leg, while Robina Brillante, principal of Lomboy Elementary School, was unhurt.

Police recovered eight empty shells and a .45-caliber bullet at the crime scene.

The Rancudo couple and the two school principals had come from a meeting at Songkoy Elementary School and were en route to the Department of Education division office in Lingayen town when the killing happened. Rancudo’s husband was driving the car.

Olieca said police were still trying to identify the gunmen, who were not wearing ski masks or helmets.

Superintendent Noel Vallo, Calasiao police chief, told radio station Bombo Radyo Dagupan that they were exploring all possible angles in the case, including “professional jealousy.”

He said some people might have held a grudge against Rancudo, being a district supervisor, for allegedly favoring and promoting some teachers or principals and not others.

“We will try to dig deeper (into) why it had to lead (to) the couple’s gun-slaying,” Vallo said.

Gun-for-hires are believed to be responsible for the killing, he added.

Vallo appealed for any help from witnesses or those may have vital information on the double murder.