No politics in killing of Ilocos b’gay head, pal — police

SINAIT, Ilocos Sur — Police ruled out politics in the gunslaying of a barangay captain and his companion inside a cockpit here on Good Friday.

Senior Superintendent Mario Subagan, Ilocos Sur police director, told reporters that the killing of barangay captain Norberto Cajigal, 45, of Sta. Cruz Sur, Badoc, Ilocos Norte, and Christopher Palacos, 29, stemmed from an old grudge. He did not elaborate.

Police said the victims were watching a cockfight in Barangay Cabangtalan here when they were shot from behind.

Earlier reports said Cajigal was running for councilor and that his killing was politically motivated.

But Subagan said that Cajigal, who was shot in the head, was not a candidate and that one of the suspects, identified as Roy Villegas, confessed that he had had personal differences with the barangay captain.

Villegas, 20, is undergoing treatment in a Batac, Ilocos Norte hospital for bullet wounds. An unidentified companion of Cajigal who came to the barangay captain’s rescue shot him.

Villegas’ cohorts managed to escape, bringing along with them Villegas’ gun, police said.