BACNOTAN, La Union, Philippines – A 70-year-old councilor of this town was killed in an ambush while on his way home Tuesday night, police said.
The victim, Onofre Almojuela, who was serving his third and last term as councilor, sustained several gunshot wounds in his back, killing him on the spot.
Initial investigation showed that Almojuela, also a former barangay chairman, was driving a L-300 van when the assailants fired at him as he was crossing the road going to his house in Barangay Mabanengneng 2nd at around 9 p.m. Tuesday.
The gunmen fled on a motorcycle.
Police recovered 11 empty shells from an unknown firearm in the crime scene.
Investigators were still determining if the killing had something to do with politics or personal grudge.
Almojuela’s wife, Revelina, chairwoman of Barangay Mabanengbeng 1st, said she was not aware of any disagreements her husband had with anybody.
Bacnotan Mayor Ma. Minda Fontanilla condemned the killing and asked the Philippine National Police to fully investigate it.
“We are clueless (on Almojuela’s killing). I asked the police to take all the names and licenses of motorcycle riders passing by in our town, check where they are going, whoever and whatever they are,†Fontanilla said. – With Raymund Catindig