ORMOC CITY– A village official in Tabango, Leyte, was fatally shot by unidentified perpetrators on Tuesday night (Feb. 20), with local authorities still conducting their investigation to determine both the suspects’ identities and the motive behind the attack.
Captain Carmelo Gacho, the town’s police chief, identified the victim as Ronald Palacio, a village councilor of Barangay Sta. Rosa.
Palacio was riding a motorcycle when he was ambushed and shot multiple times by individuals in a vehicle, he said.
According to Gacho, the incident occurred around 7:45 pm as Palacio was making his way home through an isolated area in Sitio Banahaw of Brgy. Tugas.
The assailants appeared suddenly, firing several shots at Palacio, fatally hitting him in the back and head.
Following the attack, the armed suspects fled the scene. Police recovered five empty shells of a .45 caliber pistol and two live ammunition rounds at the crime scene.
Gacho said that investigations are ongoing to identify the assailants and uncover the motive behind Palacio’s killing.
(ROBERT DEJON)
