Brgy chief, bodyguard shot dead

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines  — A 60-year-old barangay chairman and his bodyguard, a retired marine officer, were shot dead at Barangay Cruz in Calatrava town, Negros Occidental, Tuesday.

Police identified the victims as Barangay Chairman Rodolfo Antenero of Cruz village, and Raymond Sevilla of Barangay Patun-an, also in Calatrava.

Senior Inspector Mark Angelo Jungco, Calatrava Police chief, said the victims were walking towards the Barangay Hall when shot at by four still unidentified assailants, who were earlier trailing behind them. 

Jungco said Antenero and Sevilla died on the spot with gunshot wounds to their head and body. The attackers quickly fled on foot from the scene.

Police recovered four empty shells and one live ammunition of a .45-caliber pistol; one fired bullet and three pellets of a 12-gauge shotgun.

Jungco said the police were still investigating the incident, but were looking at personal grudge or land dispute as possible motive of the killing and not politically-motivated.

He added that Antenero had received death threats before the incident but did not report it to authorities.  (FREEMAN)