Surigao Norte mayor shot dead in party

A Surigao del Norte mayor was killed and two councilors were seriously wounded when a suspected communist hit man shot the local executive at close range during a Christmas party shortly before noon yesterday, the military said.

Lt. Col. Danilo Servando, Armed Forces spokesman, said Mayor Victor Elipe of Tagana-an town, was shot twice in the chest. Stray bullets hit councilors Alejandro Jusain and Salvador Casundo.

Servando said the victims were attending a Christmas party inside a multi-purpose hall in Barangay Azucena when the gunman casually approached and shot Elipe using a caliber .45 pistol. — Paolo Romero, Ben Serrano and Jaime Laude