Ambush in Guimaras, ex-village chief killed, wife hurt

CEBU, Philippines - A former barangay captain was killed while his wife was injured when riding-in-tandem gunmen fired upon them yesterday morning along Barangay Sta. Teresa in Jordan town of Guimaras.

Eduardo Gotera of Brgy. Lawi, Jordan, succumbed to multiple wounds on his body while his wife, Mildred, an employee of the Jordan Municipal Hall, suffered a minor injury on her left leg.

The couple was on board a multi-cab driven by Gotera himself on their way to the town proper, just two kilometers from the ambush site, when the incident happened.

A backrider of a red Suzuki motorcycle maneuvered near the multi-cab and peppered the victims with bullets from a .45-caliber pistol.

A 20-year old neighbor, who hitched for a ride with the couple, survived the ambush physically unharmed.

Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz, Guimaras Police chief, opted not to reveal the man's identity "as he is an eyewitness to the crime."

De la Paz said yesterday's trip was a routine for the couple. "Gotera usually drives his wife to work every morning. Apparently, it was not hard for the assassins to target him," he said, adding that there may be no intention to hurt Mildred and that "she was just hit by a stray bullet."

For now, the police have not identified the assailants yet, and that there were no reports also on the couple getting death threats before yesterday's incident, said de la Paz.

De la Paz said it could not also be ruled at this time if the gunmen were hired killers who, according to a witness, has a roundish face with a mole on the right portion, of medium-built body, dark complexioned, a semi-bald cut head, and wearing a red shirt and pair of shorts.

Several angles are now being considered behind the incident including conflict on inheritance and Gotera being a political leader in their area. (FREEMAN)