TACLOBAN CITY- A councilor of Albuera, Leyte survived an attempt to his life while he was on his way to attend the regular session of their legislative council on Monday (Feb.18).
Alberto Sumaljag, village chairman of Barangay Binolho and who is the town’s president of the Association of Barangay Chairmen (ABC) who sits as an ex-officio member of the town council, was on board of his vehicle, a Toyota Corola, while cruising along Barangay Cambalading of said town at about 8:20 am, when a Sedan-type vehicle overtook him.
One of the two suspects stepped out from the vehicle and peppered the vehicle where the 60- year old victim was on board with bullets, Chief Inspector Salvador Apacible Jr., town police chief, said in a phone interview.
“He was actually being tailed by the suspects and while they were in Brgy.Cambalading, one of the suspects stepped outside from the vehicle and peppered him with bullets but Councilor Sumaljag miraculously survived without being hit,” he said.
About 10 empty shells from M16 rifle and caliber 45 were recovered from the crime of the scene.
He was brought to a clinic to check his condition and later escorted back to their house in Binolho, Apacible said.
Apacible said that they are still conducting their investigation as to what could be the motive of the suspects.
Sumaljag is a long-time barangay chairman of Binolho.
The town came into national spotlight after its former mayor, Rolando Espinosa and his son, Kerwin, were linked to illegal drug trade.
The former mayor was gunned down on November 5, 2016 inside his cell at the Leyte subprovincial jail based in Baybay City by the members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group while serving him warrant for illegal possession of firearm while Kerwin is still detained at the PNP national headquarters in Camp Crame due to his alleged illegal drug trade.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
