Pastor, 2 others killed in La Union ambush

CAMP DIEGO SILANG, La Union, Philippines — A pastor of a Christian movement, his 21-year-old son and a follower were killed while his wife was in critical condition after they were ambushed by men wearing bonnets in Bagulin, La Union yesterday.

Police identified the victims as Herminio Estacio, pastor of Life Interfaith Church, his son Glenn, and Elizabeth Laungan, 17, a church member.

Estacio’s wife Raquel was wounded and brought to the Naguilian District Hospital.

The victims were on their way home from a worship service in the upland village of Cambal when the assailants fired at them.

Investigators were still looking into the possible motive of the killing as some information gathered alleged that the pastor’s sermon in one of worship services criticized a certain politician.

Others said it was a case of mistaken identity because the vehicle of the victims was the same model as that of the politician’s.

La Union police director Senior Superintendent Noli Taliño told Bombo Radyo that the victims have no known enemies.

Taliño said were still determining the identities of the attackers who escaped after the incident.