Feud leads to shooting of village head

SILANG, Cavite — A feud over the fielding of candidates for a village association here turned bloody when a barangay councilman shot the group’s president last Friday night, police said.

The victim, Rico Gutier-rez, president of the Buklod Bayan Homeowners’ Association in Barangay Tartaria, sustained five bullet wounds. He is in critical condition at the Perpetual Help Hospital in Biñan town.

Gutierrez, a supporter of Silang Vice Mayor Amboy Velasco, was alleged to have barred some residents, said to be allies of Velasco’s rivals, from running for positions in the homeowners’ association.

Barangay councilman Resty Rigodon shot Gutierrez with a caliber .45 pistol during a confrontation over the issue at about 6:30 p.m. Friday.

Rigodon escaped after the incident. — Rene Alviar