ORMOC CITY– A barangay chairman was fatally shot while a councilor sustained wounds in a shooting incident on Friday (Feb.16) at about 7 pm in SM Village in Purok 2 of Barangay Catmon, this city.
The victims were identified as village chairman Patricio Laude, 60, of Brgy. Catmon, who succumbed to his injuries, and Christopher Casimong, 45, barangay kagawad.
Initial investigation conducted by local police revealed that the two barangay officials were engaged in conversation in front of Casimong’s house when an unidentified lone gunman arrived at the scene.
The suspect greeted the chairman with “Maayong gabii Kap” (“Good evening Kap” in the local vernacular) and engaged in a brief conversation with both officials before suddenly drawing a short firearm from his waist and opening fire.
The barangay chairman sustained multiple gunshot wounds to various parts of his body, while the kagawad was also injured in the shooting. The suspect also struck Casimong with a chair before fleeing the area.
The chairman died at the scene, while the injured kagawad was rushed to the Ormoc Sugarcane Planters Association Family Medical Center for urgent medical treatment, where he underwent surgery.
The lone suspect, described by witnesses as tall and thin and wearing a hood, swiftly fled from the crime scene and boarded a waiting single motorcycle driven by another unidentified individual.
The Ormoc City Police are currently conducting a comprehensive investigation to determine the motive behind the attack and to bring the perpetrator to justice.
(ROBERT DEJON)
