Leyte town councilor survives ambush

CEBU, Philippines – An incumbent councilor of Hindang town in Leyte escaped unscathed, but his companion got hit and wounded during an attack last Friday evening by riding-in-tandem gunmen, while he was inside his pick-up vehicle on his way to his hometown.

Councilor Nestor Aboyme was with nine others, in two cars, on their way from Baybay City to Hindang town, when the two assailants’ motorcycle came abreast to his car and fired shots.

Aboyme’s companion, Fernando Consular, who earlier switched seats with the councilor, was hit on the left thigh.

The councilor, in a phone interview, narrated to The Freeman: “When we pass by the Inopacan cemetery, along the highway, we noticed a motorcycle with two men on board hiding under a big tree. We just continued cruising at normal speed but then I noticed the same motorcycle was accelerating behind us and trying to overtake our car. It came up to our car’s side and fired thrice at us. I was driving the car and luckily I was not hit. But my companion (Consular) who sat at the back (where I was supposed to sit) was hit on the left thigh.”

The Friday incident was the latest shooting incident that targeted incumbent councilors of Hindang.

Councilor Dodong Delalalmon, before he filed his certificate of candidacy last October, was also ambushed and hit in the hand.

However, this did not stop Delalamon from filing his COC for vice mayor against the incumbent mayor, who is now running for vice mayor in tandem with his wife who is now the mayoralty candidate.

“The authorities should do more to solve the killings and shootings in our town,” Aboyme said when asked if the police have already identified the suspects of the two attacks on the lives of two municipal officials. (FREEMAN)