Barangay councilman slain in Manila

MANILA, Philippines - A barangay councilman was gunned down while driving his tricycle in Tondo, Manila Monday night.

Barangay 56 kagawad Lorenzo Saclao, 41, was driving along Pavia street at around 8 p.m. when a lone assailant approached him from behind, shot him in the head and fled on foot.

Saclao died at the scene. His tricycle hit a passenger jeepney.

Saclao’s widow said the victim received a death threat through a text message a week before the attack, Police Officer 3 Alonzo Layugan said.

He said the text messages on Saclao’s mobile phone were erased but he will seek the help of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to retrieve them. 

Saclao’s constituents said he was doing his job well and was actively fighting the illegal drug trade in the barangay.