Brgy chief hurt, brother killed in strafing

CEBU, Philippines - Dante Berondo, 46-year-old barangay captain of Unidos, survived an assassination attempt Monday evening at Nabas town in Aklan.

But while Dante was just slightly wounded, his younger brother, 30-year-old Rufel, died on the spot due to head injuries from the attack.

Senior Supt. Samuel Nacion, Aklan Police director, said four other persons were wounded, including two minors. They were Joel Sajise, 43; Victor Velasco, 42, and the Sajise brothers, aged 14 and 12, all residents of Unidos.

The victims were reportedly inside a billiard joint when two men fired indiscriminately at them, using an armalite rifle and a 12-gauge shotgun. The suspects fled on foot after the strafing.

Berondo alleged that their neighbors, alias Johnson and his nephew, were the ones who fired at them. He also admitted to be the target of the strafing and the others victims were just a "collateral damage."

Johnson allegedly tried to kill him because of land dispute. Nabas Police and neighboring police stations immediately conducted a hot pursuit operation but failed to arrest the suspects.