Bulacan barangay chief gunned down in Valenzuela

MANILA, Philippines - A barangay chairman of Bulacan province was shot dead near his father’s house in Valenzuela City yesterday morning.

Ronald Legaspi, 48, chairman of Barangay Liputan, Meycauyan, sustained five gunshot wounds out of the seven bullets fired at him, city police chief Senior Superintendent Eric Armamento said.

Legaspi was rushed to Dalandanan Hospital in Valenzuela, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Investigators have yet to establish the motive for the killing, Armamento said.

Legaspi went out of his father’s house in Barangay Wawang Pulo about 6:30 a.m. and proceeded to a parking space for rent about 100 meters away to check on his brand new black Honda Civic, the city police chief said.

The parking space, which was big enough for two cars, has bamboo walls and gates and a galvanized iron roof. Legaspi had been renting the space for quite sometime, Armamento said.

While Legaspi checked on his car, two men riding a black motorcycle parked about 200 meters away from the parking space. Witnesses said the driver wore a bonnet and a dirty white jacket, while his backseat rider wore a baseball cap.

“They arrived almost instantly, as if they have an informant in the (area),” Armamento said.

The backrider got off the motorcycle and checked if the parking area’s bamboo gates were open, then signaled the driver to come forward. The driver, armed with a gun, shot Legaspi seven times as the backrider fired a warning shot to keep onlookers away.

“After that, they casually walked away, boarded their motorcycle and fled toward Obando (in Bulacan). Witnesses said the driver even reprimanded (his accomplice) for being slow,” Armamento said.

Barangays Wawang Pulo in Valenzuela and Liputan in Meycauayan, Bulacan are separated by a boat ride, he said.