Village exec gunned down

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – A barangay kagawad was killed in an attack by a motorcycle-riding assailant in Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur yesterday.

Francisco Maca Jr. of Barangay Poblacion in Kumalarang town died at the scene of the crime, which occurred at the corner of Alano and Cabrera streets in Barangay San Francisco.

Maca was about to board his vehicle when the assailant, who was wearing a face mask, approached and shot the victim in the head, according to Lt. Col. Jerwin Cagurin, acting chief of the Pagadian City police.

Local officials believe that the killing was election-related. They said Maca was a campaign manager of a candidate for councilor and was a supporter of a political leader in the province.

Meanwhile, in Batangas, a kagawad died after he was run over by his own construction equipment in Rosario town on Tuesday.

Rudy Endencio of Barangay Antipolo was driving a soil grader in Barangay Calantas when its engine malfunctioned, causing him to lose control of the wheel.

To avoid hitting pedestrians, Endencio jumped off the equipment, which toppled over and pinned him.

Members of a local rescue team used a payloader to lift the grader off Endencio, but he was already dead by the time they pulled him out from under the equipment.