7 slain in Luzon shootings

MANILA, Philippines -  Seven persons, including a councilor, were killed in separate shootings in Luzon over the weekend.

Among the fatalities were four in Rizal and one each in Bataan, Laguna and Pangasinan.

Danilo Basi, councilor of Hermosa, Bataan, was walking home with a cousin in Barangay Mambog when unidentified men shot him on Saturday.

Basi was declared dead on arrival at a hospital from gunshots to the forehead, face and chest.

In Rizal, Jamie Kyle Asignacion and Christian Pelaez were shot dead in Antipolo City and Binangonan, respectively, before dawn yesterday.

Pelaez’s alleged killer, identified as Mark Lenin Pasco, and his companion Sharvy Fuentas were arrested by pursuing police officers.

Police have yet to arrest Asignacion’s assailants.

On Friday, Alex Cabrales and Danilo Vilamor were shot dead by two unidentified assailants in Cainta and Antipolo City, respectively.

In Laguna, a body bearing gunshot wounds was found in Barangay Dita, Sta. Rosa City on Saturday night.

On the same night, security guard Manuel Nillo Tani, 38, was allegedly shot dead by his drinking buddy Salvador Padilla in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan.

Padilla was arrested in a follow-up operation. Authorities have yet to determine the motive for the killing.

Meanwhile, another security guard, Dante Garcia, 50, was wounded while his companion Rogelio Cayab-yab, 47, was unharmed in an attack in nearby Malasiqui town.

Garcia and Cayabyab were on their way home from the wake of a friend when the suspect, identified as Reynaldo Aquino, shot them.

 Probers are eyeing a quarrel over a card game at the wake as the motive for the attack.