Abra village leader gunned down

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Another village leader in an Abra town was gunned down Tuesday morning after attending a voters' education meeting.

Police said barangay chairman Arnulfo Madriaga, 54, of barangay San Diego, Pidigan town  came from a Commission on Elections-led “Voters Education” meeting at the Pidigan Elementary School when waylaid by still unidentified gunmen at around 11:15 Tuesday morning.

Abra police said the village leader together with a barangay tanod Alfredo Barroga Blando, 27, were heading home aboard a motorcycle when assassins also on board another motorcycle without plate number tailed them and opened fire along barangay Pangtod, also in Pidigan.

The village leader sustained several bullet wounds from a caliber .45 gun instantly killing him.

Probers said they found  12 fired cartridge cases of caliber .45 and one fired bullet of the same caliber where the village leader was waylaid.

Abra police director Sr. Supt. Benjamin Lusad said they have yet to determine the motive and identity of the assailant.