Negros village chief, bodyguard gunned down

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – A village chief of Calatrava, Negros Occidental and his bodyguard were shot dead Tuesday afternoon, police said yesterday.

Rodolfo Antenero, 60, of  Barangay Cruz and Raymond Sabilla, a retired Marine soldier and resident of Barangay Paton-an, were walking toward the barangay hall at 5:30 p.m. when unidentified assailants shot them in the head, said Senior Inspector Mark Angelo Junco, Calatrava police chief.

Police recovered bullet shells for a caliber .45 pistol and a 12-gauge shotgun.

Investigators said among the possible motives for the attack are land dispute and an old grudge.

Senior Superintendent Milko Lirazan, director of Negros Occidental police, ordered a manhunt for the killers.