Mayor Roble’s supporter shot dead

HILONGOS, LEYTE, Philippines — Unidentified riding-in-tandem men gunned down a 30-year-old supporter of Mayor Jose Emery Roble of this town, along the national highway at around 1 a.m. last Friday (April 19), police reports said.

The victim, identified as Resty Isagani Lor, married, resident of this town, was himself riding a motorcycle with two others on their way to a campaign rally for Team Roble in one of the barangays here when the incident happened.

Lor’s companions were Benjamin Alfante, 34, of Brgy. Lamak and Efren Bagares, 39, of Brgy. Liberty.

While the three were on their way to the rally site, the riding-in-tandem assailants suddenly appeared from behind and shot Lor twice, causing him to fall. The gunman approached him and fired another shot at the fallen victim.

Lor’s companion scampered to a grassy area by the roadside, while the attackers immediately sped off towards the town’s Poblacion. The victim was rushed by responding policemen to the Hilongos District Hospital but he was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

Investigators found two pieces of live bullets and later two empty shells, both of a 9-mm pistol.

Initial findings showed politics among the possible motives of the killing, but the authorities were still digging deeper into the investigation to identify the assailants.

The mayor has yet to issue a statement on the incident.  (FREEMAN)