Samar ex-mayor slain in Mandaluyong

MANILA, Philippines - Two men shot dead a former mayor of an Eastern Samar town while the victim hosted a gathering in his room in a Mandaluyong City slum Saturday night.

Former Motiong mayor Constancio Pacanan Jr. sustained gunshot wounds in the head and arms and died on the spot.

Eastern Police District (EPD) director Chief Superintendent Miguel Laurel ordered an investigation into Pacanan’s death. He did not rule out politics as the motive behind the killing.

“We should exhaust all means to identify the suspects and arrest them,” said Laurel in his directive to Senior Superintendent Armando Bolalin, Mandaluyong City police chief.

Reports reaching Laurel showed that Pacanan was planning to reclaim his post in the 2013 midterm election.

Neighbors claimed Pacanan hosted a drinking session in his rented room at a house in Welfareville Compound. They said they heard two gunshots at around 10:45 p.m. and saw two men leaving the house.

Bolalin said Pacanan lived alone in his rented room at the squatter’s area of the city. He said they are still waiting for Pacanan’s relatives to show up and talk to police investigators to determine who could have a reason to silence him.

“We have no motive as yet. We are conducting a background investigation on him and why he was living in the said squatters’ area,” said Bolalin his report to Laurel.

Bolalin noted though that before gunshots rang out, there were sounds of a struggle in Pacanan’s room and he was heard shouting at the two men to leave.

According to reports reaching Laurel, Pacanan served as mayor of Motiong town from 2004 to 2007.

In the 2007 midterm elections, Pacanan won by three votes over his rival Francisco Langi Sr. but a local court unseated him and declared his opponent the winner after a recount.

Pacanan also lost his mayoralty bid in the 2010 elections.