ORMOC CITY, Philippines – The vice mayor of Villaba town, Leyte was shot dead by two assailants outside his restaurant shortly before noon yesterday.
Vice Mayor Claudio Larrazabal was having lunch at his Midpoint Resto-Bar in Barangay Del Norte when one of the assailants entered and shot him, according to witnesses whose names were withheld.
Reports said the gun jammed, giving Larrazabal a chance to run outside.
The witnesses, who were at another table, said they tried to wrest the gun from the assailant when they heard gunshots from outside the restaurant.
The shots were reportedly fired by a second assailant, who served as a lookout. Both men escaped.
Larrazabal was declared dead on arrival at the OSPA-Farmers Medical Center here.
Police recovered 16 bullet shells from the scene.
Larrazabal is an uncle of former Commission on Elections Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal and Ormoc Vice Mayor Leo Carmelo Locsin.