Department of Agriculture Cagayan Valley chief gunned down

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya , Philippines  – The Cagayan Valley director of the Department of Agriculture (DA) was killed in an ambush in Solana, Cagayan yesterday morning, police said.

Quoting reports, Chief Superintendent Roberto Damian, regional police director, said Dr. Gumersindo Lasam, 63, was cruising an irrigation bridge en route to his farm when two motorcycle-riding men waylaid him in Barangay Basi West at around 7:15 a.m.

Damian said Lasam died while being treated at the St. Paul Hospital in Tuguegarao City nearly two hours later.

Senior Superintendent Moro Lazo, Cagayan police director, said probers were still looking into the possible motives behind the killing.

There were speculations though that the slay may have something to do with a land dispute or Lasam’s supposed plan to run in the 2010 polls.

In a text message to The STAR, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said, “Lasam was our best; we are so sad.”

Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome, Philippine National Police spokesman, said President Arroyo offered a P1-million reward each for the arrest of the killers of Lasam as well as Undersecretary Ramon Aquino of the Department of Public Works and Highways. – With Marianne Go and Cecille Suerte Felipe