Iloilo mayor beaten up for firing gun

ILOILO CITY , Philippines  – A municipal mayor was hospitalized after a group of people beat him up for allegedly firing a gun in Maasin, Iloilo on Saturday.

Mayor Jose de Paula of Janiuay town was taken to St. Paul’s Hospital in this city for treatment of injuries.

A bullet from De Paula’s gun reportedly grazed Donald Robles, 20, in the abdomen.

Reports said that De Paula was celebrating the victory of his town’s basketball team at the Villa Teresita Inland Resort in Barangay Tubang at around 11 p.m.

An LGBT (lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender) group was also holding an event at the resort.

 Maasin police chief Senior Inspector Rey Cordero said the mayor, who was believed drunk, reportedly tried to join the LGBT group.

The host reportedly announced that there was a gatecrasher at their event, apparently referring to De Paula.

The group did not recognize De Paula as mayor of nearby Janiuay town.

 Slighted, De Paula reportedly pulled out a pistol and fired shots into the air.

The mayor ran toward his car, but a village official and watchmen stopped him.

The village official asked De Paula to surrender his gun.

The mayor reportedly refused and a scuffle ensued.

A group of men beat up the mayor after seeing that he was no longer armed.