Barangay captain gunned down in QC

A 48-year-old barangay chairman was assassinated yesterday by six men just as he was about to deliver a speech in front of the barangay hall in Barangay Pansol, Balara, Quezon City.

Rodrigo Borgonio, of 35 N. Perez street, died instantly after sustaining three gunshot wounds in the head and one in the chest.

Initial investigation conducted by PO1 Joseph Madrid, officer-on-case, disclosed that the incident took place at about 7:30 a.m. during the flagraising ceremony at the barangay hall. The victim was set to deliver a speech when shots were heard.

Madrid said two men approached Borgonio and immediately pumped two bullets into the chairman’s head at close range. Four other suspects, who were positioned nearby, fired guns in the air, prompting people to scamper.

To make sure the target was liquidated, one of the gunmen fired another shot into the fallen chairman’s chest.

Before fleeing the scene, the suspects took Borgonio’s cell phone and 9 mm pistol. They escaped on board a Toyota Tamaraw FX van (TWL-943), which they forcibly took from a certain Juan Cargo.

Investigators recovered at least 30 empty shells from the crime scene.

According to witnesses, the suspects were all young, between the age of 25 and 30 years old. All of them had backpacks. Some were wearing bull caps.

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. denounced the attack, saying the assassination of the barangay captain was a direct affront to authority.

Belmonte who rushed to Barangay Pansol minutes after the shooting, said Borgonio died while performing his official duties at the barangay.

"I am very angry. I have asked the police to speed up the investigation and arrest his killers," he said. Belmonte said the city will provide assistance to the family of Borgonio.

Police and residents said the barangay captain may have been killed because of his tough anti-drugs stand.

Borgonio had been quite active in the campaign against drug offenders in his barangay.

"Mabait si Kap, pero marami siyang pinakulong dahil sa droga," said Carmen Collado, a barangay coordinator.

Barangay executive officer Lope Avedano, who was only a few meters from where the killers stood, said a member of the barangay police was fired upon when he chased the killers as they sped off toward the Diliman area.

"We are all shocked," he said.

Avedano said the killers could have come from outside the barangay.

"Hindi sila tagarito," he said.

Some residents interviewed by The STAR said the killing may have been related to the demolition of squatters in the area. Others said the killers could be members of New Peoples Army’s urban hit squad because of the style of execution.