Authorities still clueless on CamSur mayor’s slay

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – Police were still clueless on the killing of the mayor of Lupi, Camarines Sur in Naga City last Saturday afternoon.

After being comatose for almost 10 hours following the attack, Lupi Mayor Raul Matamorosa, 47, died at around 1:30 a.m. yesterday at the Mother Seton Hospital in Naga City.

Matamorosa, who belonged to the Liberal Party, was shot in the head by a lone gunman in front of an electronics repair shop in Barangay Concepcion Pequeña in Naga City.

Matamorosa’s elder brother Bobby said the mayor had no known enemies. He refused to say if politics had something to do with the killing.

Superintendent Renato Bataller, Bicol police spokesman, said Matamorosa was approached by the unidentified man armed with a .45-caliber pistol and shot from behind.

Attending physicians said the bullet hit the mayor’s nape and exited through his forehead.

Bataller said the mayor was attacked as he was about to get his wallet inside his Toyota Innova to pay for the repair of his television at the repair shop along the Diversion Road in Barangay Concepcion Pequeña.

Bataller said the gunman fled on a motorcycle along with two companions who had served as lookouts.

Reports said Matamorosa was in Naga City for a family reunion.

He said Matamorosa was the highest local official killed in the Bicol region after the Oct. 5 filing of certificates of candidacy of bets for next year’s elections.

Matamorosa was on his last term as mayor of Lupi town in the first district of Camarines Sur.

A number of municipal councilors and barangay officials were killed in Masbate, Camarines Sur and Sorsogon after the 2010 elections. – With Francis Elevado