8 dead, 7 injured in shooting, mishap

In Isabela

SANTO TOMAS, Isabela, Philippines — A barangay chairman, a police officer and two others were killed in a shooting incident during a barangay fiesta celebration here on Saturday night, while a road accident left four people dead in Alicia town also in Isabela yesterday morning.

Police said the shooting incident wounded four people while the road accident left three injured.

According to investigators, people were celebrating the fiesta in Barangay San Rafael Abajo when unidentified gunmen opened fire at the group seated in front of a police officer’s house.

The barangay chairman and the police officer died on the spot from multiple gunshot wounds. Two others, including another police officer, died while being treated in a hospital.

Police withheld the names of the victims upon request of their family members.

Meanwhile, in Alicia town, police said four people died and three others were injured after a truck rammed a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) and a motorcycle in Barangay Rizaluna yesterday morning.

Initial investigation showed that the front tire of the trailer truck burst, causing the driver to lose control and leading to the collision on the opposite side of the national highway.

Four of the six MPV passengers died on the spot while two other family members, including a child, were rushed to the nearest hospital.

The motorcycle driver, who suffered severe injury, was also taken to the hospital.

The truck driver surrendered to the Alicia police station.