Ex-dad gunned down on election day

GAPAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, Philippines  – A former city councilor was gunned down by two motorcycle-riding gunmen in front of his house right on election day early morning here yesterday.

Police Senior Superintendent Roberto Aliggayu, Philippine National Police provincial director, identified the victim as Elpidio Rueda, 56, ex-councilor, of Barangay Sta. Cruz in this city. Rueda died on the spot.

Rueda’s killing came three days after a former Air Force intelligence officer was waylaid by suspected communist New People’s Army rebels in Cabanatuan City.

Aliggayu said the gun attack was carried out by the suspects at around 5 a.m. in front of the victim’s house at Purok 7, Sta. Cruz. Rueda was sipping coffee at a waiting shed in front of his house with two of his neighbors when the suspects suddenly appeared and fired at him. The gunmen fled at the north direction to Barangay Pambuan.     

The motive for the attack has yet to be known. Rueda is an ally of ex-mayor Ernesto Natividad and was one of those who filed an election protest against the group of Mayor Christian Tinio and Vice Mayor Rodel Matias.

Police said the suspects have been monitoring Rueda’s movements and have actually established a pattern on his whereabouts.    

Responding lawmen recovered three empty shells from a .45 caliber revolver.

The attack on Rueda came following the cold-blooded murder of Pablo Ramos, a retired PAF sergeant of Barangay Sto. Tomas, Aliaga town. – Manny Galvez, Ric Sapnu