TACLOBAN, Philippines — A barangay captain and a member of the Sangguniang Kabataan council were wounded in a gun attack on Wednesday.
Dennis Laurente of Barangay Alta Vista in Ormoc City suffered gunshots to the head and body and remains in critical condition in a hospital in this city.
Hanna Toralba, 21, is confined in the same hospital.
Police said the victims were in a multicab when unidentified motorcycle-riding men fired at their vehicle.
Esteban Laurente, president of the Liga ng mga Barangay-Ormoc chapter and uncle of the village chief, condemned the shooting.
“There is no other motive behind this except politics,” Laurente said. ”This could not have been done without a mastermind.”
He called on villagers to help in the investigation and prevent similar incidents by informing the police if there are suspicious persons in their barangays.
Leyte fourth district Rep. Richard Gomez and Ormoc Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez have offered a reward of P200,000 for information leading to the arrest of the assailants.