Ex-brgy chief shot dead

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines - A former chairman of Barangay Dian-ay in Escalante City, Negros Occidental was gunned down by two unidentified assailants at his house, Saturday evening.

Superintendent Leo Batiles, chief of Escalante City Police Office, identified the victim as 47-year-old Romeo Romo, who was a village chief in 2013.

Batiles said Romo and his 16-year-old son were having a dinner inside the store at their house, at around 7:25 p.m., when the two suspects came and shot the victim dead.

The teenager-son was able to hide when the gunmen fired at his father, who sustained 10 gunshot wounds around his body and head, said Batiles.

Batiles said Romo was declared dead on arrival when brought to the hospital.

There were no empty shells recovered from the crime scene but the police found three slugs of .38-caliber revolver, while investigators got a slug for a .38-caliber revolver from the victim’s body.

Batiles said the attackers fled the crime scene on foot, according to witnesses’ testimonies.

Police probers have ruled out politics as the motive of killing since the victim lost his reelection bid in 2013, “it may be personal or an old grudge,” Batiles added.