Laguna village OIC shot dead

LAGUNA, Philippines — An acting barangay captain was gunned down at his house in Calamba early yesterday.

Mario Jun Cogay, 63, of Barangay Canlubang, died on the way to the Global Care Medical Center.

Cogay’s grandson said his grandfather was shot when he went near the gate of their house to turn off a faucet.

One of two men on a motorcycle reportedly alighted and initially shot Cogay three times at close range and then fled.

Witnesses said the gunmen returned after a few minutes and finished off the victim with more shots.

Cogay’s relatives said the victim had received death threats since he was designated acting barangay captain.

Lt. Col. Arnel Pagulayan, Laguna police deputy director for operations, said a special investigation unit was created to look into the killing.

Cogay had topped the elections as barangay council member in the Oct. 30, 2023 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

He was not proclaimed along with the winning village chief Larry Dimayuga and three other barangay council members due to the disqualification cases filed against them for alleged premature campaining.

The council member with the second highest number of votes was named barangay officer-in-charge until Cogay could be cleared by the Commission on Elections.