Batangas barangay chairman shot dead

Batangas, Philippines -– A 68-year-old barangay chairman was killed by a lone gunman in Laurel town Monday night, police said.

Senior Inspector Philip Aguilar, Laurel police chief, said the victim, Roberto Garcia, chairman of Barangay Molinete, had just come from a basketball game in neighboring Balete town and was on his way home on board his motorcycle when he was waylaid at around 10:30 p.m. Monday. The gunman fled on foot, he said. 

Garcia died on the spot from multiple gunshot wounds from an M-16 rifle. 

Probers have yet to determine the motive behind the killing. Senior Superintendent Omega Jireh Fidel, Batangas police director, has formed a special task group to handle the case.– With Ed Amoroso