Brgy chairman survives attack

ORMOC CITY , Philippines  — The barangay chairman of a city district here was shot inside his own comfort room by two still unidentified men who barged into his house early evening of Saturday.

The victim, Andres Tortugo, in his late 40s, was shot on the head, the body and his leg but survived and was, as of press time, in stable condition at the OSPA-Farmer's Medical Center in the city.

Case investigator PO3 Mark Ruita said policemen recovered at the crime scene two empty cartridges of what they believe were for a .45 caliber revolver and two slugs. A third slug is imbedded in the victim's leg.

Ruita said initial investigation showed the victim had just taken his dinner after which he went to his room to go inside the comfort room, as was his routine.

Left behind the dining room were his wife Naty, his driver Ramon Diongzon and guest Demetrio Cabaquing, but shortly after two men barged in and ordered them to drop to the floor.

"Hapa ra mo," the unidentified men commanded the three before proceeding into Tortugo's room. Few seconds after, three shots rang out and the assailants, who still had their helmets on, fled.

Nobody could give an exact description of the getaway motorcycle, though the police presumed it had no plate number.

Ruita believed that Tortugo's assailants were frequent visitors to his house, considering their familiarity of the house and of the victim's habit of going to the comfort room right after dinner.

There were raw reports about drugs in connection with the attack but Ruita said they are still investigating the incident.

Last March 31, Tortugo's house was strafed by unknown men at around 8 a.m.