Monday, March 13, 2023

Forty-Six Local Officials Have Been Assassinated or Attacked Since Marcos Took Office

Senator Risa Hontiveros claims there have been at least seven attacks against local officials since Marcos took office in July, 2022. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/08/23/7-attacks-vs-local-officials-logged-since-marcos-took-office

At least 7 attacks on local politicians have been recorded since the start of the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., a senator said Wednesday.

Describing the frequency of attacks as "very disturbing," Sen. Risa Hontiveros has filed a resolution calling for an inquiry into the "causes and drivers" of these incidents.

In the case of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, Hontiveros said it is important to look at institutions and "how they may, whether deliberately or not, have contributed to the violence visited upon public officials."

Degamo's attack came some 2 weeks after the Supreme Court upheld Comelec's resolution recognizing Degamo as the winner of the 2022 Negros Oriental gubernatorial race.

The recent rash of assaults on local politicians include the July 22 fatal shooting of former Dolores, Quezon vice mayor Danilo Amat in San Pablo City, Laguna.

Two days later, former Lamitan, Basilan Mayor Rose Furigay was shot dead inside Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City.

In August, former Lobo, Batangas vice mayor Romeo Sulit was gunned down while attending a birthday party.

In February, Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal "Bombit" Adiong Jr. was seriously wounded while 4 of his police security were killed in an ambush in the town of Maguing, Lanao del Sur.

Days later, Vice Mayor Rommel Alameda of Aparri, Cagayan and 5 of his companions were killed in an ambush in Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya.

On February 22, Mayor Ohto Montawal of Montawal, Maguindanao del Sur province was shot and wounded in an ambush in Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City.

At least seven attacks? There have been way more than that. Let's go through my Retards in the Government series which documents these attacks and other instances of corruption and political malfeasance every week and see how many we can find. Since Risa includes former politicians on her list I will do likewise. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/02/27/village-chair-gunned-down-in-front-of-wife-in-batangas/

A barangay captain was gunned down on Sunday morning, Feb. 26, in Barangay San Carlos here.

Police identified the victim as Vivencio Palo, chairman of Barangay San Carlos.

Palo was unloading merchandise for his store at about 5:20 a.m. when an unidentified man appeared and shot him in the presence of his wife.

The suspect fled onboard a car while the victim was taken to a hospital here where he died.

Police have yet to determine the motive for the killing and the identity of the suspect.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1194975

A village official was killed while two others, including his wife, were injured in an attack in an upland village here, the police reported on Saturday.

Col. Alexander Lorenzo, Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) director, identified the fatality as Barangay Tolosa Councilor Mark Ryan Rodriguez, 29.

Tolosa’s wife, Anni, 32, and their driver, Jomel Mendoza, were hurt.

Lorenzo said the incident took place around 9:30 p.m. Friday in the village located 23 kilometers east of the city hall.

Police investigation showed Rodriguez and his family were having dinner outside their house when two unidentified gunmen on separate motorcycles repeatedly shot the victims and sped off.

Rodriguez was pronounced dead at around 10:07 p.m.


https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1729100/town-councilor-in-nueva-ecija-found-dead-inside-car

A member of the Sangguniang Bayan (municipal council) in Sto. Domingo town was found dead early Sunday, Feb. 12, inside her vehicle in Barangay Maturanoc in this town, police said.

The police identified the victim as Councilor Angelique Alexis “Angge” Paulino, 33, a resident of Sto. Domingo’s Barangay Sto. Rosario.

Paulino was Sto. Domingo’s number one councilor and chaired the committees on ways and means and the market.

Initial investigations showed that the victim suffered multiple bullet wounds. She was heading to a high school reunion at the time of her death.

Paulino was a language and literature graduate of the University of the Philippines-Baguio.

Policemen were running after the culprit, who was reportedly “close” to the victim, sources said. 

A village chief and four others were killed and two more were injured in an ambush in Zamboanga del Norte, the police reported Thursday.

An initial report of Sirawai Municipal Police Station said the village chairperson, Ali Manangca, along with four others were killed in an ambush around 3 p.m. Thursday in Barangay Piña.

Manangca is the village chief of Barangay Balubuan, Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte.

The other victims were not immediately identified.

A team of Sirawai policemen led by Executive Master Sgt. Rymerjun Pernito, who rushed to the ambush site, brought the victims to the hospital for treatment.

Initial investigation showed that Manangca and his companions were aboard a Toyota Hilux when waylaid by unidentified gunmen.

Police said investigation is ongoing to establish the identities of the suspects.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/01/27/village-chair-shot-dead-in-sultan-kudarat/

Authorities have launched a manhunt against motorcycle-riding gunmen who shot dead a barangay chairman in Lebak, this province, on Thursday evening, Jan. 26.

Lt. Col. Julius Malcontento, Lebak police chief, said on Friday, Jan. 27, that soldiers are helping them in pursuing the attackers of Rogelio Talagtag, 53, chairman of Barangay Basak.

Talagtag was standing in front of his family-owned variety store in Barangay Basak when two men aboard a motorcycle arrived at about 6 p.m. and shot him.

“One of them alighted and fired at the unsuspecting village official in the head and body, killing him instantly,” Malcontento said, citing police investigation.

The perpetrators sped off to an unknown direction after the incident, he added.

Responding police officers found eight empty shells and a slug for a .45 caliber pistol at the crime scene.

Brig. Gen. Jimili Macaraeg, Police Regional Office 12 (Soccsksargen) director, has ordered the Lebak police to intensify the manhunt against the perpetrators and ensure that they are held accountable for the crime.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1193696

Police investigators have identified “persons of interest” in the shooting and wounding of a barangay kagawad (councilor) and his companion in Minaba, Bayawan City, Negros Oriental.

Initial investigation showed that around 7:10 p.m. Wednesday, armed men shot Artemio Estrebella, 60, Barangay Minaba councilor, and his 45-year-old companion Ricky Canillo.

They were having dinner when the attack happened, said Lt. Col. Rex Moslares, chief of the Bayawan police. The victims sustained gunshot wounds.

Moslares said they are looking into a possible link of “persons of interest” in the attack as well as the motive for the shooting, including a possible grudge or business-related.

Recovered from the scene were two fired cartridges of caliber .9mm, Moslares said.

This is the second barangay councilor in Negros Oriental to be shot this month.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1193988

Unidentified gunmen ambushed and killed a village chairperson and his wife along a remote section of the national highway here, a police official reported Tuesday.

Maj. Christopher Cabugwang, Parang town police chief, identified the fatality as Abobakar Abdul, 40, village chair of Barangay Polloc, and his wife Bainisa, 39.

Cabugwang said Abdul and his wife were heading home in their pickup truck when two men-riding tandem on motorbike overtook and opened fire on the driver’s side of the vehicle at 5:45 p.m. Monday.

“He supervised the registration of new voters in the village to ensure it is orderly and was going home when ambushed in Barangay Timbangan,” Cabugwang said in an interview.

Police rushed the couple to the hospital but both were declared dead on arrival.

“We are still determining the possible motive, but initially we are looking at the political angle of the ambush,” Cabuwang said without elaborating.  

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1720223/village-chief-shot-dead-in-cagayan

The village chief of Santo Domingo in Piat town, Cagayan province was killed by unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen on Monday evening, Jan. 23, police said.

Investigators identified the barangay chairman as Richard Biraquit, 57, who had bullet wounds in his head and body.

According to initial reports, Biraquit and his wife had just left their farm and were heading home aboard a Toyota Fortuner when they were shot by the assailants using .45-caliber pistols at around 6 p.m.

Biraquit’s wife took him to the Nuestra Señora De Piat District Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival, police said.

Investigators were still trying to establish the motive behind the attack.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/01/05/ex-village-exec-shot-dead-in-pangasinan/

A former barangay official was shot dead inside his vehicle in Rosales, Pangasinan on Wednesday, Jan. 4.

The victim was identified as Bryan Trinidad Did, 51, of Barangay Toboy, Asingan, Pangasinan.

Police received a report that a Sports Utility Vehicle was causing traffic on the Don Teofilo Sison Bridge.

Lawmen found the victim with bullet wounds in the body. He was taken to a hospital in Rosales where he was declared dead.

Motive yet to be determined and assailants still unidentified.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1709782/pampanga-barangay-captain-shot-dead

A barangay captain was shot dead by a lone gunman in this city on Tuesday night .

Barangay Sto. Rosario captain Jesus Liang was walking across the newly renovated public market when the male gunman approached and shot him in the head at around 8:30 p.m. before fleeing on foot toward V. Tiomico St., Lieutenant Colonel Preston Bagangan, city police chief, said in a phone interview on Wednesday.

Liang, 63, was on his third and last term.

Bagangan said a team has been dispatched to gather footage from security cameras in the area while an investigation is underway.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/12/22/retired-municipal-administrator-in-leyte-gunned-down/

A retired municipal administrator of San Isidro, Leyte was killed in an ambush on the national highway in Barangay Libongao, Kananga, Leyte, on Wednesday, Dec. 21.

Police identified the victim as Juanita Balmoria Veloso, 77, a resident of Barangay Linao, San Isidro, and sister of San Isidro Mayor Remedio Veloso.

Initial investigation disclosed that the victim, together with driver Edmil Bacay and companion Leleena Veloso, were on board a white Sports Utility Vehicle towards San Isidro from Ormoc City.

Upon reaching Barangay Libongao, men armed with high-powered firearms on board a gray Nissan Navarra pickup truck with license plates ABN-7103 fired several times at the victims’ vehicle.

Juanita, who was sitting at the back of the driver, was hit, while Bacay and Leleena were unharmed.

Leleena ran towards a grassy portion of the road to seek cover while the suspects fled towards the direction of Capoocan, Leyte.

Juanita was declared dead on arrival in a hospital by the attending physician.

https://journalnews.com.ph/cavite-kagawad-shot-dead-in-broad-daylight/

A barangay kagawad was shot dead by a motorcycle riding gunman along R. Basa St. in Barangay 54, San Roque on Sunday, December 11, 2022.

Police Lt. Colonel Jerry Corpuz, local police chief, identified the slain victim as Filimon Ambrocio Jr., 50.

A report revealed the victim was driving his motorcycle with his live-in partner Susan Alejo as back rider when he was shot dead by the suspect on board a Yamaha Mio motorcycle at around 7:57 a.m.

Footage from a CCTV camera showed the suspect to be between 5’2″ to 5″5 in height and was clad in white shirt, black jacket, bull cap and maong pants.

Local authorities led by local police chief Corpuz are now conducting a massive investigation and manhunt operation for the immediate arrest of the suspect.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1705137/son-of-sultan-kudarat-mayor-employee-slain-in-gun-attack

Two persons, including the son of a town mayor, were killed, while two others were injured in a gun attack Tuesday night in Sultan Kudarat, police said Wednesday.

Police Captain Leonel Delasan, Lutayan police chief, said Datu Naga Mangudadatu, 30, a defeated vice mayoral aspirant of the town in Maguindanao del Sur, and Dennis Hadji Daup, 25, of Barangay Paitan, were shot at 6:30 p.m. at the town’s public market.

Datu Naga, son of Lutayan mayor and former provincial governor Mayor Pax Mangudadatu, was sitting in front of his business establishment at the town market, when the suspects arrived on board a pick-up vehicle and opened fire, said Colonel Lino Capellan, speaking for the police in Sultan Kudarat provincial police office.

Datu Naga, a resident of Barangay Tamnag and a younger brother of former Sultan Kudarat Gov. Suharto Teng Mangudadatu, was declared dead by physicians in a Koronadal City hospital.

Daup, Naga’s employee and confidante, died while undergoing medication.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1190178

A former town official was killed while her husband was wounded in a predawn drive-by shooting incident in Isabela City of Basilan province on Tuesday.

Col. Richard Verceles, operations chief of the Area Police Command-Western Mindanao, said Melissa Alih, 30, died while her husband, Jack, 30, was hospitalized following the 12:10 a.m. attack.

Melissa was the former assistant municipal secretary in the island town of Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan.

Verceles said investigation showed the couple was aboard a motorcycle on the way home to Barangay Tabuk, Isabela City, when repeatedly shot at closed range by one of two men riding tandem on another motorcycle that tailed them in Barangay Doña Ramona T. Alano.

He said the attending physician declared that Melissa expired around 12:45 a.m.

Police investigators recovered four empty shells from a .45-caliber pistol at the crime scene.

A thorough probe is underway to determine the motive as well as identities of the perpetrators behind the incident, police said.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/852665/barangay-kagawad-shot-dead-in-front-of-barangay-hall-in-cavite/story/

A barangay kagawad was shot dead in front of barangay hall in Bacoor, Cavite, according to Nimfa Ravelo's Super Radyo dzBB report on Friday.

Angel Ventura Tamayo, barangay kagawad of Barangay Sineguelasan, was shot dead in front of barangay hall at 5 p.m, based on the report received by P/Col. Christopher Olazo, provincial director of PNP Cavite.

The victim was talking to barangay secretary John Paul Grande when two unidentified men riding a motorcycle shot him.

He was immediately taken to Binakayan Hospital. However, he was declared dead on arrival.

Authorities are still conducting the investigation.


https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1694928/quezon-town-councilor-gunned-down-2

A municipal councilor of Dolores town in Quezon province was gunned down early Friday (November 18), police said.

A spot report from Dolores police said Orlando Barsomo, 47, was shot by a still unidentified assailant using an unknown gun caliber at 3:15 a.m. while doing his walking exercise in Barangay Dagatan.

Investigators said the gunman fled and left his target dead.

The victim, a bachelor who was on his third term as a town councilor, was also a former village chieftain of Dagatan, located five kilometers away from the town proper.

An investigation was underway to establish the motive behind the incident.

Police also launched a manhunt operation to arrest the killer.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1695532/ex-town-councilor-slain-in-camarines-sur-shooting

A former councilor of Pili town in Camarines province was shot and killed on Saturday night (Nov. 19), a report said Sunday (Nov. 20).

Lieutenant Colonel Maria Luisa Calubaquib, the Bicol police spokesperson, said when Raul Delfin Divinagracia arrived at his apartment, he was shot several times by an unidentified gunman in Barangay (village) Cadlan at around 9 p.m.

The victim died while being taken to the hospital.

An investigation is ongoing.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1689236/laguna-village-councilman-shot-dead
A barangay councilor in Santa Maria town in Laguna province was shot and killed on Thursday, Nov. 3.

The Region 4A police reported that John Vispo, a councilman in Barangay Cabuoan, was in a store at 8:20 p.m. when he had an altercation with one Reynald Ikling.

The heated argument prompted Ikling to shoot Vispo repeatedly with a handgun.

Police said the gunman fled after the shooting and left the village official dead on the spot.

The investigators did not specify the cause of the argument.

A further investigation was ongoing, while a manhunt was launched to arrest the assailant.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1690058/village-councilor-shot-dead-in-cavite
A barangay kagawad (village councilor) in Tanza, Cavite was shot and killed by motorcycle-riding gunmen on Sunday.

In a report Monday, the Region 4A  police said Jimbo Villanueva, an incumbent councilor of Barangay Paradahan 2, was managing the flow of traffic in a funeral procession in the village at around 2:30 p.m.

The assailants, who were aboard a black motorcycle without a plate number, repeatedly shot the victim.

Investigators said the assassins sped off after the shooting.

Villanueva was taken to MV Santiago Hospital in Trece Martires City, but he died at 3:55 p.m. while undergoing treatment.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1186694

Police here are hunting down motorcycle-riding assailants who shot down a village councilman and wounded two seniors in separate incidents the past two days, an official said Friday.

“We are looking at several persons (and are) digging deeper into this case,” said Major Amil Andungan, police station 2 commander, as he bared Thursday's murder of 43-year-old Alberto Tampos of Barangay Rosary Heights 9.

Tampos was driving along Governor Gutierrez Avenue on his motorbike at around 11 a.m. when two motorcycle riding assailants sped from behind and shot him.

“He sustained four gunshot wounds in the head,” Andungan said.  He told reporters that he managed to speak to the slain official’s family who said Tampos has no known enemies.

“The family could not explain why he was murdered,” Andungan said. Tampos has been serving as village councilman for the past five years.  

He was the second village official slain in a gun attack in this city since January.  
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1186757

Police in Bayawan City, Negros Oriental continues pursuit operations against the suspects in the slaying of a village councilman on Friday noon.

Col. Jonathan Pineda, officer-in-charge provincial police director, told the Philippine News Agency that he has directed the Bayawan City police chief to “exhaust all means” in identifying the perpetrators and the motive behind the killing of Diosdado Gemina.

Gemina, 52, a barangay “kagawad” of San Miguel, Bayawan City, was shot dead around 12:20 p.m. at Sitio Cabcabon in Barangay Banga of that southern city.

He was declared dead on arrival at the hospital, Pineda said.

Initial investigation revealed that unidentified suspects wearing jackets and black ballcaps and riding tandem on a motorcycle shot the victim while he was driving his own motorcycle.

The motive for the shooting is still undetermined.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1684317/maguindanao-town-councilor-slain-in-gun-attack

A town councilor here was shot dead by still unidentified gunmen along the national highway in Barangay Pagagawan at noontime Monday.

Lt. Nurjhasier Sali, acting police chief of Datu Montawal town, told reporters that Councilor Mubarak Moby Abubakar had just alighted from his red Mitsubishi pick-up beside the highway to buy fish when attacked.

While Abubakar was talking to a fish vendor of the roadside stall, one of two men on board a motorbike arrived and one of them opened fire, hitting the town official at the back of his head and body.

Village watchmen and police rushed Abubakar to the Deseret Surgimed Hospital in Kabacan, Cotabato but he died along the way.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1684653/village-chief-hurt-in-stabbing-in-camarines-sur

A village chief was wounded in a stabbing incident Monday in San Jose town in Camarines Sur province.

Colonel Julius Caesar Domingo, Camarines Sur police chief, on Tuesday, Oct. 25, said the victim was Jeffrey Ortiz, 40, of Barangay Del Carmen.

Initial investigation said Carlos Masille, 68, caused a commotion at 8:35 p.m. outside the residence of Joy Sarmiento in the village.

After a few minutes, Ortiz approached Masille, who stabbed him twice on his left arm.

Police arrested Masille after a hot pursuit operation and took Ortiz to a hospital for treatment.

The police are still investigating the incident.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1681619/village-official-gunned-down-over-debt-in-cavite

A barangay kagawad (village councilman) was shot and killed by a debtor in Indang town in Cavite province Tuesday morning, Oct. 18.

Cavite police said in a report that Willy Costa, incumbent kagawad in Barangay (village) Buna Lejos 2, and Cerilo Berber had a heated argument at around 7:45 a.m. in Barangay Buna Lejos 1 over the latter’s unsettled cash debt to the village official.

Citing accounts by witnesses, police said Berber repeatedly shot the victim using a handgun.

The suspect fled after the shooting. The victim died while being taken to a hospital.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1185638

A former vice mayor of Calbiga, Samar was gunned down by a soldier listed as AWOL (absence without leave) along a major highway in the province on Friday morning, the police reported.

Miguel Abaigar Jr., 54, a resident of Canticum village in Calbiga town, was biking in Timbangan village when Allan Malageuno, 43, a resident of Catbalogan City, shot him using a .45 caliber pistol.

The bullet hit Abaigar’s back killing him instantly, according to the police.

The suspect was identified with the help of witnesses.

After the shooting, the suspect on board a motorcycle drove to Catbalogan City but the Calbiga police has already alerted nearby police stations.

Hot pursuit operations led to the suspect's arrest in a checkpoint set up along the highway of Bato village in Paranas town less than an hour after the shooting,

Recovered from the suspect was a .45 caliber pistol loaded with one bullet and inserted magazine.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1185055

Police have launched a manhunt against unidentified gunmen who shot dead a former mayoral aspirant in Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao province, while emerging from a Friday prayer at a mosque.

Mayor Lester Sinsuat of Datu Odin Sinsuat ordered the local police to hunt down the suspects and bring justice to his fallen uncle, Datu Jamael Q. Sinsuat.

“I, my family together with all the constituents of Datu Odin Sinsuat town strongly condemn the brutal killing of my uncle,” the mayor said in a statement.

“This cruel and cowardly act should hold no place in our society and community,” he added.

Datu Jamael, former village chairperson of Barangay Dalican in the municipality, was shot by the attackers at around 12:30 p.m. outside the mosque in the village.

He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Datu Odin Sinsuat district hospital.

The victim was also the official mayoral candidate of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in the municipality during the May polls this year, but lost to his nephew.
https://mb.com.ph/2022/10/04/former-vice-mayor-wife-driver-killed-in-aurora-ambush/

A former vice-mayor, his wife and his driver were killed when they were ambushed by still unidentified assailants in Barangay Dibutunan at 5:10 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 3.

Town police chief Major Eduardo Mendoza, Jr. identified the victims as Engineer Narciso Amansec, 60, his wife Merlina Amansec, 61, and Leonard Talosa, 42, all of Barangay Ipil in this town.

Probers are still establishing the escape route of the suspects as the ambush took place in a secluded road section.

Investigation disclosed that the victims who were on board a color maroon pick-up truck were negotiating the Baler-Casiguran road heading toward the north direction when they were fired upon by their attackers at close range.

The fatalities were declared dead-on-the-spot by Dr. Arturo Parilla, town health officer of Dipaculao while the vehicle were riddled with bullets fired from still undetermined weapons by the gunmen The police provincial office has already ordered the creation of a Special Investigation Task Group to track the suspects’ identities and their immediate arrest.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/09/04/village-dad-tending-store-in-quezon-gunned-down/

A 55-year-old barangay councilor was shot dead while manning his store on Saturday, Sept. 3, in Barangay Ajos in this town.

Police identified the victim as Ramil Advincula, councilor of Barangay Ajos.

Investigation said Advincula was inside his store at 6:50 p.m. when an unidentified man appeared and pretended to buy bottled water and soft drinks.

The suspect drew a gun and shot the victim thrice, killing him on the spot. The gunman fled onboard a motorcycle towards Mulanay, this province.

Advincula’s daughter reported the incident to the police. Local police have conducted a dragnet operation and follow-up investigation to determine the killer’s motive and identity.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1938969/bacolod/local-news/cops-eye-rebels-behind-slay-of-isabela-village-chief

CONTRARY to his earlier pronouncement, Isabela Municipal Police Station Chief Major Joseph Partiday said Thursday, August 25, 2022, that members of the communist terrorist group (CTG) could be behind the killing of a barangay captain in the town on Wednesday.

Barangay Cabcab Captain Danilo Dautil, 61, succumbed to gunshot wounds on his nape and right portion of his chest near his armpit at the Isabela District Hospital a few minutes after he was shot by unidentified suspects.

Investigation showed that Dautil was riding his motorcycle on his way home from the town proper when at least two suspects came out from the sugarcane plantation beside the road, blocked his way and shot him at close range.

Partidas said that they were earlier looking at two angles. The killing could be politically motivated or it could be robbery since his bag was missing from the crime scene, he said.

The police said that as they dig deeper into the case, it became clearer that it is possible that Dautil was killed because of his active involvement against insurgency in the barangay.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/08/26/suspected-insurgents-slay-village-chair-in-front-of-family-in-negros/

Suspected insurgents gunned down a 54-year-old barangay chairman in front of his family in Calatrava, Negros Occidental Friday, Aug. 26.

The murder of Barangay Lalong Captain Benjamin Javoc was the second involving a barangay captain in just three days by heavily armed men in Negros Occidental.

Before dawn Wednesday, Aug. 24, Danilo Dautil, 62, barangay captain of Barangay Cabcab, Isabela, Negros Occidental, was shot dead while on his way home.

The municipality is about 100 kilometers south of Calatrava and is a two-hour drive.

Police considered Dautil and Javoc’s murders as insurgency-related.

Police Major Lumyaen Lidawan, Calatrava police chief, said at least 10 unidentified armed men arrived at Javoc’s house at around 4:30 a.m.

Lidawan said gunmen shot Javoc outside his house and this was witnessed by his wife and son.

The suspects proceeded to ransack the victim’s house and carted away his personal belongings and P20,000.

Lidawan said they are considering this killing as insurgency-related, since the barangay was reported to be infested with armed rebels.

Police could not yet elaborate, pending the investigation.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1651655/village-councilor-hacked-to-death-in-albay

An unidentified person hacked a village councilor to death on Monday, August 22, in Libon town in Albay province, police said Tuesday.

Executive Master Sergeant Maribeth Corporal, Libon police chief investigator, said Jerry Vargas, 65, was found dead around 3 p.m. with hack wounds on his neck in Barangay Macabugos.

Corporal said Vargas’s son, Norman, found the body near a nipa hut, about 200 meters from their house.

Initial investigation said Vargas left their house at 6 a.m. to tend to his ducks, but failed to return home.

An investigation is ongoing to identify the suspect behind the killing.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/24/22/brgy-chairman-babae-patay-sa-pamamaril-sa-leyte

The police investigation continues after the killing of a barangay chief in the town of Javier, Leyte this Monday morning.

According to information from the PNP Eastern Visayas, the victim, Joel Riños, was returning home from a neighboring town when an unknown gunman was waiting for him.

The captain of Brgy was shot dead. It was arranged.

The assailant allegedly waited for the victim in Barangay Caranhug, Javier.

The captain has no known enemies who could have a motive for the killing, according to the family of the deceased.

It is said that the authorities are now in possession of a CCTV footage where the assailant and one of his associates who acted as the driver of the motorcycle used in the crime were seen.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/841272/barangay-captain-shot-dead-by-motorcycle-riding-assassins-in-cagayan/story/

A barangay chairman was killed was killed after he was shot by two unidentified men on a motorcycle in Rizal, Cagayan.

The Cagayan Police Provincial Office identified the victim as Roberto de Ocampo, 50, of Anurturo.

Investigation showed that Ocampo and his wife were in their pickup truck traversing the provincial road in Barangay Gumarueng in Piat town on Wednesday when the suspects shots them.

The victim sustained gunshot wounds in different parts of his body and was immediately brought by responding police officers to the Tuao District Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

His wife survived the shooting incident.

The police said the suspects immediately fled the scene on a silver-grey Nmax motorcycle.       

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1645467/gunman-kills-local-govt-exec-in-batangas

A local government official in Lobo town in Batangas province was shot and killed by a lone gunman on Thursday night.

The Batangas police reported Friday, August 12 that Romeo Sulit, 61, the municipal council secretary, was delivering a speech around 8 p.m. at a debut party in Barangay Tayuman, when an assailant approached him from behind and shot him.

The gunman wore a green jacket, black shorts, and a hat.

He fled on foot and left his target with a fatal bullet wound at the back of his head.

The police said Sulit, a former vice mayor of Lobo, was brought to Batangas Medical Center in Batangas City for treatment.

Captain Roy Cuevas, Lobo police chief, said Sulit died at 12:34 a.m.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1181338

A police manhunt is underway against a group behind the ambush-slay of a former village chief and his worker in Barangay Kidama here on Sunday evening.

Lt. Col Jingle Parallag, town police chief, identified Monday the victims as Felipe Sara Maluenda, 61, former chairperson of Barangay Kidama, and Joseph Mariano Flores, a laborer and resident of Alamada town, North Cotabato province.

Parallag said Maluenda was driving his sedan together with Flores on their way to Barangay Kilada when gunmen positioned on both sides of the road at a local sugarcane plantation opened fire on them around 7:00 pm.

Both victims were brought to separate hospitals here but were declared dead on arrival by the attending physicians.

“The victims obtained fatal wounds in different parts of their body,” she said.

 Police recovered eight pieces of empty shells from an M16 rifle, another empty shell from a .45-caliber pistol, and other pieces of evidence.

“The suspects swiftly ran into the sugarcane plantation after the incident”, Parallag said.

“Our investigation is ongoing,” she said, declining to give more information so as not to jeopardize police operation.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1631135/cotabato-village-chief-killed-in-gun-attack

Unidentified gunmen ambushed and killed a village official in Pikit town, Cotabato province on Wednesday morning.

Maj. Maxim Peralta, Pikit police chief, said Datu Jalandoni Matalam Akas, 58, village chief of Barangay Macabual, was on a motorbike with his wife when they were attacked by still unidentified gunmen along the national highway in Barangay Nalapaan.

Akas died on the spot while his wife was unharmed in the gun attack that happened around 8 a.m.

The gunmen on board separate motorbikes then fled after the shooting, heading for the town proper.

It was the second daylight shooting in Pikit in two days.

“Hot pursuit operation is still ongoing,” Peralta told a local radio station in an interview.

Matalam’s relatives claimed that the victim had no known enemies and roamed around without firearms or armed escorts.

On Tuesday afternoon, unidentified gunmen also ambushed and killed Alex Salcedo, 58, an employee of Pikit Water District.

He was on motorbike when the suspect shot him from behind in Barangay (village) Batulawan at around 2 p.m.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1625332/village-councilor-in-masbate-town-shot-dead

A village councilor in Baleno town in Masbate was shot and killed by unidentified assailants on Sunday afternoon, police reported.

Masbate police said Noli Licup, 56, a resident of Barangay (village) Docol was shot by two unidentified gunmen in Barangay (village) Tinapian at around 1:40 p.m.

Initial investigation revealed that the victim was riding a motorcycle when he was attacked by the suspects who shot him multiple times in the back.

Licup died on the spot.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1178008

A village chairperson was killed while his wife was unscathed in a drive-by shooting by riding in tandem gunmen in a remote town of Zamboanga del Norte, a police official said Friday.

Maj. Shellamie Chang, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula spokesperson, said Berting Inding, 54, was shot and killed around 11:58 p.m. Thursday in Barangay Tibangao, Siocon municipality.

Inding, the village chairperson of Balagonan, was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician at the Siocon District Hospital.

Chang said Inding was driving a motorcycle with his wife as the back rider when fatally shot by one of two men aboard another motorcycle that overtook them along the national highway in Barangay Tibangao.

She said the perpetrators sped off under the cover of darkness.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1620625/bulacan-barangay-chairman-shot-dead

A barangay chairman from this town was shot and killed gunmen while driving his vehicle on his way home on Friday.

Police Colonel Charlie Cabradilla, Bulacan police chief, identified the victim as Marvin Avendaño, 48, barangay (village) captain of San Jose.

Based on initial investigation, Avendaño attended a birthday party in Barangay Buliran and was driving his vehicle when two gunmen standing on the side of the road shot him.

The two suspects immediately fled after the incident.

Cabradilla said further investigation and pursuit operations against the suspects are ongoing.

That is an additional 39 local officials who have been assassinated or attacked since Marcos took office. That means at least 46 local officials have been assassinated or attacked since June 30th, 2022. That works out to an average of one per week though some weeks there are no killings while there are multiple killings in other weeks.  How can Senator Hontiveros be so wrong as to only list seven officials? 

It just goes to show how out of touch both the media and politicians are. How many of these cases have even been solved and the assassins and their accomplices along with the masterminds brought to justice?  Every time a politician is assassinated or attacked there should be outrage from all quarters. But there isn't because political assassinations are so common and hum drum in the Philippines that no one really cares. Not even Senator Risa Hontiveros. It has nothing to do with who is President. It has to do with the nature of Filipinos and Philippine politics. Until those two things change the blood will continue to flow. 

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