3 mourners killed, 14 hurt in Abra wake raid

SAN JUAN, Abra — Three persons, one of them a barangay councilman, were killed while 14 others where injured, 2 of them grade schoolers, in a pre-midnight shooting in Barangay Barbarsic, San Juan town, this province Friday.

The shooting incident took place at a wake in the barangay and while the victims were playing "dado," a dice game, and bingo.

Abra deputy police director for administration Col. Reynaldo Sarte identified the fatalities as Eric Pacursa, barangay kagawad of Brgy. Barbarsic, Juliebert "Algie" Pacursa and Jansen Bersamin.

Those injured are Jerome Bayubay, 26; Romel Pacursa, 25; Rogie Montorio, 8; Gilbert Baruela, 15; Filomeno Blosan, 17; Jomar Piler, 15; Carmelo Daganato, 32, Crisanto Baruela, 26; Robert Baruela, 35; Philip Eugene Baruela, 10; and Albert Batalla, 16, all of said barangay.

"We still don’t have any motive for the shooting spree," Sarte admitted.

Most of the injured sustained shrapnel wounds, allegedly coming from a 12 gauge shotgun, one of the high-powered firearms used by the three gunmen who reportedly covered their faces with black bonnets.

The other attackers carried M16 Armalite rifles. — Ave Bello