Ex-Surigao exec dies in hospital after attack

SURIGAO CITY, Philippines – A former councilor of this city, who was wounded in an attack in a cockpit here Saturday, died at a hospital Sunday.

Constante Elumba of Barangay Togongon died while being treated at the Surigao City Medical Center, said Senior Inspector Joel Cabañes, intelligence chief of the city police.

Elumba was reportedly an ally and trustee of the late senator Robert Barbers and his sons and former city mayor Alfonso Casurra.

Case investigator Senior Police Officer 1 Jay Tandayag said Elumba was in the Pyramid Cockpit in Barangay Luna when he was shot by a lone assailant at around 3 p.m.

Witnesses said the assailant, whom they described as about 5’4” tall, of medium build and wearing a striped polo shirt, escaped on a motorcycle without license plates.

Tandayag said Elumba suffered gunshot wounds in the head and body.

Investigators recovered six bullet shells for a caliber .45 pistol at the crime scene.

Cabañes said they would review footage taken by a closed-circuit television camera installed at the cockpit.

He said among the possible motives for the attack are politics, drugs and the local insurgency problem.