Abra village chief wounded in shooting

VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur, Philippines — A barangay captain was wounded while one of his companions was killed in a gun attack on their way to a court hearing in Barangay Calot in Bangued, Abra on Friday.

Robert Bio was taken to the Seares Memorial Hospital for treatment.

The fatality was identified as Demy Peralta, Bio’s brother-in-law.

Initial reports showed that the victims were in a van that Bio was driving when they were attacked.

An investigation is ongoing.

The incident followed a shooting in Ormoc City in Leyte on Wednesday, which left a barangay captain and a member of the Sangguniang Kabataan council wounded.

Probers are eyeing politics as the motive for the attack.

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.