Village chief killed in gun attack

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – A 59-year-old village chairman was shot dead by motorcycle-riding men in front of his pension house here Sunday night.

Lucresio Mesias, of Barangay Lipata, died at the scene from five gunshot wounds in the body, said Senior Inspector Joel Cabañes, chief of the city police intelligence division.

Cabañes said they are looking into illegal drugs as a motive for the attack, as the victim was a supporter of the government’s anti-drug campaign.