Councilor, cop slain in separate shootings in Batangas, Quezon

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna – A municipal councilor and a police officer were killed in separate shooting incidents in Batangas and Quezon province, reports said.

Chief Inspector Pamela Helaga, Calabarzon spokesman, identified the slain councilor as Bonifacio Casanova alias Franco, 50, and resident of Barangay Gahol, Taal, Batangas and PO3 Elmer Tibor, 42, a member of the Philippine National Police assigned at the Sampaloc police station and resident of Purok Pagkakaisa, Barangay Ibabang Iyam, Quezon.

Helaga said Casanova, a member of Kampi party-list and Taal councilor was gunned down by a lone assassin in front of the municipal hall, at about 12 p.m., on Monday.  He sustained a gunshot wound on the head and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Polymedic Hospital in Taal, Batangas.

The councilor had just come from a session and about to board his Toyota Crown when an unidentified gunman appeared at his back and shot him at close range.

Further, Tibor was also shot to death by three unidentified armed men in Llagas compound at Barangay Ibabang Iyam, Lucena City, when he responded to an ongoing trouble in his area.

Tibor sustained six gunshot wounds when two of his gunmen shot him at close range on the head with a .45 caliber  pistol.

Helaga said police admitted that the two shooting incidents are still under investigation and the motives are not yet determined.

She said police are trying to look for witnesses who could give information and possible description of the killers of Casanova and Tibor through cartographic sketches.       – Ed Amoroso