MANILA, Philippines — The vice mayor of San Andres, Quezon was shot dead on Tuesday.
Sergio Francisco Emprese, 60, was resting in the living room at the house of his sister in Barangay Kanlurang Mayao, Lucena City when an unidentified gunman entered at around 9 p. m., Lt. Col. Reydante Ariza, city police chief, said.
Emprese suffered a gunshot wound in the head. He died while being treated at the MMG Hospital.
The victim’s sister Chuchi told police she went out of her room when she heard a gunshot. She said the gunman told her to back off before he fled on foot.
Probers said the assailant could have monitored the movement of the vice mayor.
Emprese served as mayor of San Andres for several terms before he ran for vice mayor.
His son Serson lost in his mayoral bid in the May elections.
Last March, Emprese was ordered suspended for six months in connection with the charges he was facing before the Sandiganbayan.
He was charged with graft over the municipal government’s alleged illegal use of disaster funds in 2012 when he was mayor. – Emmanuel Tupas, Michelle Zoleta