Oriental Mindoro police chief shot dead

BATANGAS CITY — The police chief of Sablayan, Oriental Mindoro was gunned down by a lone assailant after attending a friend’s birthday party here Saturday night, authorities said.

The victim, Senior Inspector Marcos Barte, 46, was with three companions aboard an owner-type jeep when the gunman approached and shot him with a caliber .45 pistol in the head, chest and arms.

The group had just attended a friend’s birthday party in Barangay Kumintang Ibaba when the incident happened at about 8:30 p.m.

Barte resided in Barangay Soro-soro Ilaya here.

Barte’s companions Roberto Gudoy, a former policeman who was driving the owner-type jeep, Imelda Shin and Ronie Valiente were unharmed.

Police said Gudoy identified the assailant as one Agripino Guevarra, a barangay tanod and resident of RK Subdivision here.

Investigators said an old personal grudge could have motivated the killing.