Pangasinan town mayor, 2 others shot dead

MANILA, Philippines - Unidentified gunmen shot dead on Saturday the mayor of Urbiztondo, Pangasinan, his police bodyguard and another person on Rizal Street in Poblacion, Urbiztondo.

Mayor Ernesto Balolong, Jr., a member of the Liberal Party, sustained seven gunshot wounds and was declared dead on arrival at the Eljera Hospital in San Carlos City.

PO1 Eliseo Ulanday, Balolong's bodyguard, was also declared dead at the Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation Hospital also in San Carlos City. A bystander named Edmund Meneses was also killed.

Jose Mejia, a stockman of the CSI Supermarket in Urbiztondo and Rogelio Esguerra, a "taho" vendor, were also wounded by stray bullets but are now in stable condition.

Balolong was in the street together with his bodyguard to inspect a venue for the reception of his 15th wedding anniversary with his wife when gunmen fired at the victims using automatic weapons and fled on a van toward San Carlos City.

Police recovered an abandoned brand new black Toyota Innova in Barangay Cauayan Kiling, San Carlos City, believed to be the getaway vehicle used by the suspects.