Zambo Sur barangay chief survives ambush; pal dead

ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines   â€“ A village chief was wounded while his companion was killed in an ambush in Pitogo town, Zamboanga del Sur last Wednesday, authorities said.

Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, spokesman of the Region 9 police, said Noel Laurete Mojillo, president of the Association on Barangay Councils and a representative to the Pitogo municipal council, and his companion, Edgen Aguilar, were cruising Barangay Poblacion on a motorcycle when they were waylaid.

Huesca said the two were on their way to Barangay Liguac when at least seven men fired at them with M-16 and M-14 rifles at around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Despite two bullet wounds, police said Mojillo managed to run away and escape from their attackers. Aguilar was killed on the spot.

Responding policemen failed to catch up with the assailants. Probers were looking into politics as possible motive, as the barangay elections are slated in October.

Meanwhile, the suspected triggerman in last week’s killing of a village councilman in Santiago City, Isabela province was slain in a shootout with policemen after he refused to yield in a checkpoint in the adjoining town of Cordon last Wednesday.

Senior Superintendent Sotero Ramos Jr., Isabela police director, said the slain suspect, Mark Gregory Santiago, was tagged as the leader of a robbery-holdup gang and had warrants of arrest for multiple frustrated murder, robbery with homicide, drug trafficking, car theft, and illegal possession of firearms.

Ramos said witnesses have identified Santiago as the triggerman in last week’s killing of former Santiago City barangay head Rafael Martinez, who was an incumbent councilman of Barangay Centro East.

In Badoc, Ilocos Sur, authorities have arrested a certain Esteban Leano for the killing of former village chief Amor Taclay, 47, last week. Leano was identified by Taclay’s wife Madelyn who was wounded in the attack.  â€“ With Raymund Catindig