Ecija village chief, councilman shot dead

LUPAO, Nueva Ecija, Philippines – A village chief and councilman were killed when a farmer went on a shooting rampage in a birthday party here Monday night, police said.

The two victims, Elpidio Gamit, 50, Jerry Verdillo, chairman and councilman, respectively, of Barangay Alalay Chica here, were both allies of Gov. Aurelio Umali and Mayor Richard Ramos. They were on their second terms.

Senior Inspector Florentino Cuevas Jr., Lupao police chief, said the gunman, Pedrito Dicipulo, 58, was later arrested near the crime scene.

Cuevas said the shooting was apparently sparked by an old grudge between the sons of Verdillo and Dicipulo.

Investigation showed that the shooting broke out at around 9:30 p.m. Monday at the birthday party of a certain Lito where the two victims and the suspect were in a drinking bout along with other men.

Cuevas quoted witnesses as saying that in the middle of the drinking session, Dicipulo stood up and left. When he returned, he was brandishing a short gun of unknown caliber and shot the victims point-blank.

Gamit was hit in the body, and Verdillo in the back. They were rushed to the Sacred Heart Hospital in San Jose City where Verdillo was pronounced dead on arrival. Gamit was being transferred to Cabanatuan City but died upon reaching the Science City of Munoz.