Ilocos Norte clerk of court slain in ambush

BAGUIO CITY , Philippines — A clerk of court was killed while a court employee was wounded in an ambush in Batac, Ilocos Norte on Monday. 

Randel Villaruz of the Ilocos Norte Regional Trial Court Branch 65 died while being treated in a hospital. Court process server Teodoro Daguipon suffered seven gunshot wounds and remains confined in a hospital.

Initial investigation showed the victims were in a Honda Civic driven by Daguipon when they were shot in Barangay Baay near the Bungon National High School at around 5:15 p.m. 

Senior Superintendent Cesar Pasiwen, Ilocos Norte police director, said a person of interest is under police custody, but refused to give details.

On Saturday night, former provincial legal officer Jason Perera was shot in front of his house in Laoag City. 

Perera, who is handling drug cases, was wounded and is now in stable condition at the Roque Ablan Memorial Hospital. 

Pasiwen said the motive for the shootings could be work-related.

In Quezon, teacher Emily Bucay was shot dead in Barangay Lalig, Tiaong at around 4 p.m. also on Monday.

Investigations into the shootings are ongoing. – Michelle Zoleta, Ed Amoroso