P’sinan principal slain on way home

MAPANDAN, Pangasinan — An elementary school principal on her way home in a tricycle was shot dead by two motorcycle-riding men here the other day, police said.

Senior Inspector Leonardo Tamondong, municipal police chief, said Tessie Morante, 57, principal of Golden Elementary School in Barangay Golden, was with teacher Myra de la Peña, 27, when she was shot in the back twice with a caliber .45 pistol at about 5:50 p.m.

Morante died while being rushed to the Mapandan Community Hospital. De la Peña and the tricycle driver, Victorino Lopez, were unhurt.

People at Morante’s school told probers that they saw two motorcycle-riding men having snacks at about 4 p.m. Police believe the gunmen had tailed the principal.

The STAR learned that Morante was the subject of a petition by some teachers, parents and pupils a year ago for being strict and disciplinarian. Probers were looking into this angle, among other possible motives. — Eva Visperas, Cesar Ramirez