Ilocos Norte clerk of court shot dead in ambush

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — A clerk of court was killed and a process server wounded in an ambush by motorcycle-riding gunment in Batac City, Ilocos Norte on Monday afternoon.

The attack came days after Jason Perera, who used to work for the provincial government, was shot in front of his home in Laoag City over the weekend. The lawyer was recovering in a hospital as of Monday.

Randel Villaruz, clerk of court of Regional Trial Court Branch 65 in Laoag City, died at the hospital Monday evening.

Court processor Teodoro Daguipon, also of RTC branch 65, survived with seven gunshot wounds.

Police have persons of interest in case

Senior Superintendent Cesar Pasiwen, Ilocos Norte police director, said police already have persons of interest in both shootings.

He said Daguipon was likely the target of the killings because he was shot seven times. Villaruz may have been "collateral damage" and was only shot because he was in the same car.

Pasiwen said they are looking into whether the shooting was over a personal grudge or was work-related.

He added police already have a suspect in the Perera shooting based on closed-circuit television footage. 

"Hopefully, Attorney Perera will talk (to us)," the police director said.

Perera could only communicate through hand gestures on Monday.