Bodyguard of Pagadian mayor's staff shot dead

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines -  A civilian bodyguard of one of the staff of Pagadian City Mayor Samuel Co was brutally gunned down by unidentified assassins Tuesday dawn, police said.

A bystander was also wounded during the gun attack about 4:45 a.m. along Alano St., San Jose District, Supt. Julius Muñez, officer-in-charge of the Pagadian City Police said.

The victim – John Paul Go, 34, bodyguard of Vic Lingating who is the executive assistant of Co – was foud with 18 gunshot wounds on different parts of his body.

The other victim was identified as Edgar Mante, 42, a vulcanizing shop operator.

Investigation disclosed that Go was having his motorcycle’s punctured tire fixed when the unidentified assassins onboard a motorcycle stopped near Go and shot the victim 18 times.

Mante, who was at the time fixing the motorcycle tire, was hit by the stray bullets.

Both victims were rushed to Pagadian City Medical Center for treatment, but attending physicians declared Go dead-on-arrival while Mante has been undergoing treatment.

Muñez directed the police to tighten the security on the survivor at the hospital.

The police official said the motive of the shooting on Go was more of personal and has nothing to do with the controversial investment scam Aman Futures Group of the Phil. Inc.

The investment scam, which duped thousands of investors in Pagadian City with an estimated P12 billion pesos, has raised tension in Pagadian City as defrauded victims were reportedly taking revenge against the incorporators and agents of Aman Futures. 

Police have tightened the security in Pagadian City to avert scam-related incident from happening following the directives of Chief Supt. Napoleon Estilles.