Batangas town police chief slain

Tanauan City, Batangas, Philippines – The 39-year-old police chief of Malvar town was shot dead in Barangay Sambat here yesterday morning, authorities said.

Superintendent Willy Atun, city police chief, said Senior Inspector Ramonchito Chavez, a resident of Barangay Sambat, had just brought his wife to work and his eldest daughter to school when he was waylaid by two men just a few meters away from his house at around 7:20 a.m.

Atun said Chavez was returning home aboard his Toyota Corolla when he stopped in front of a tricycle terminal upon seeing a small town lottery (STL) collector.

According to a witness, Chavez was alighting from his car to place an STL bet when one of the two men wearing camouflage attire shot him.

Other witnesses said the triggerman even pointed his gun at the tricycle drivers, saying “Huwag kayong makikialam (Don’t make any move),” before boarding their motorcycle and fleeing toward Talisay town.

Chavez was rushed to the CP Reyes Hospital but was declared dead on arrival. Initial findings showed that Chavez sustained two gunshot wounds in the head and face.

Chavez’s wife Shiela said her husband had no known enemies nor had received any death threats, thus he had no security escorts.

Association of Barangay Captains president Sammy Platon, Chavez’s father-in-law, echoed the same thing.

Malvar Mayor Cristeta Reyes, for her part, described Chavez as a reliable police chief.

Chavez was about to be promoted to the rank of chief inspector.

Witnesses identified the gunman through the police rogues’ gallery as one Nonilon Linga and the driver of the getaway vehicle as Roberto Asis.

Linga and one Cirilo Mantes have been tagged in the killing of Barangay Natatas chairman Sofronio Vivas last April 27. – With Dennis Carcamo, Ed Amoroso and Non Alquitran