Cop, 6 others slain in gun attacks

MANILA, Philippines — Seven persons, including a police officer, were gunned down in Batangas, Isabela, Surigao del Norte and Cagayan in the past two days.

Senior Police Officer 1 Roderick Botavara of Balayan, Batangas was driving to the police station on his motorcycle after attending a family gathering at a resort in Barangay Lanatan when he was shot on Sunday night.

Botavara died while being treated at the Medical Center Western Batangas Hospital.

Jinkylito Ortojan, 51, former chairman of Barangay Tawin-Tawin in Siargao, Surigao del Norte, was shot by unidentified motorcycle-riding men also on Sunday.

Chief Inspector Joel Leong, General Luna police chief, said Ortojan was on the list of “high-value” targets.

In Isabela, Leonardo Albano, 69, barangay kagawad of Caliguian, Burgos, was riding his bicycle when he was waylaid in Barangay San Antonio at around 6:30 a.m. yesterday. 

Investigations into the gun attacks are ongoing.

Bar owners shot dead by customers

Eugene Javier, his wife Princess and Ramsey Javier and his wife Aela, co-owners of a karaoke bar in Barangay Magapit, Lal-lo, Cagayan were shot dead by their customers before dawn yesterday.

Chief Inspector Ramon Macarubbo, Lal-lo police chief, said the still unidentified suspects reportedly had an argument with the victims at around 1:30 a.m. They fled on a  motorcycle.

Bullet shells for a caliber .45 and 9mm pistols were recovered at the scene. 

In Quirino, the body of village watchman Marcelino Ignacio of Barangay Gundaway was found in an irrigation canal in Barangay Villa Peña, Cabarroguis, Quirino on Sunday.

Ignacio’s  body bore multiple stab wounds. A sign identifying the victim as a drug dealer was found near his body.

However, the Cabarroguis police said Ignacio was not on their drug watchlist. – Ben Serrano, Raymund Catindig, Emmanuel Tupas, Arnell Ozaeta