Cebu councilor slain in ambush

MANILA, Philippines — A councilor of Cebu was killed in an ambush on Wednesday.

Alexander Alicaway, 49, of San Fernando town was declared dead on arrival at the South General Hospital in Naga City.

Police Officer 1 Erwin Oyao said Alicaway was on his way home from his store in South Poblacion at around 5 p.m. when he was shot by motorcycle-riding men wearing bonnets and helmets.

Oyao said the assailants waited for Alicaway in an alley near a public market.

Two bullet shells for a caliber .45 pistol were recovered at the scene.

Probers are looking at robbery as the motive for the killing, noting that Alicaway’s necklace and cell phone were missing. The councilor’s relatives said he has no enemies.

Chief Inspector Adrian Nalua, San Fernando police chief, said Alicaway was not included on the drug watchlist.

Alicaway is the second Cebu local government official killed in less than a month.

On Feb. 19, Ronda Vice Mayor and lawyer Jonnah John Ungab was killed in an ambush while attending the promulgation of the charges filed against his client, self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa.