Batangas mayoral aspirant shot dead

Batangas , Philippines  – A 42-year-old businessman aspiring for a mayoral post in Batangas was killed while his driver was wounded in an ambush in San Pascual town Wednesday night, police said.

Senior Superintendent Jesus Gatchalian, Batangas police director, said realtor Jeremiah Malaluan had just come from his office in Batangas City and was on his way home in San Pascual when the gunmen blocked his Nissan Sentra along the main road in Barangay Sto. Niño and fired at him with a caliber 9-mm pistol.

Malaluan died on the spot from multiple gunshot wounds.

His driver, Roberto Bautista, 44, was wounded in the right thigh and was rushed by bystanders to the Bejasa General Hospital.

Police said the attackers fled toward Bauan town on board a red Mitsubishi car.

Chief Inspector Renato Mercado, San Pascual police chief, said Malaluan was aspiring to become mayor of Alitagtag town where he hailed from, although he resided in San Pascual.

Mercado though discounted politics in Malaluan’s killing, saying business could likely be a motive as the realtor had reportedly sent an employee to jail for malversation of company funds.