P.2-M reward up for arrest of Malabon councilor’s gunman

MANILA, Philippines — Malabon Mayor Antolin Oreta III yesterday offered a P200,000 reward for the capture of the gunman who killed his political officer on Tuesday.

Oreta gave the reward after a witness managed to recognize one of the assailants who shot dead Rodrigo Tambo, councilor of Barangay Catmon, along Dulong Hernandez street at around 6:30 a.m.

The witness, a barangay tanod, said the suspects did not wear masks.

The witness told probers that he was talking with Tambo about the barangay’s Christmas party when the assailants arrived and fired at the victim.

He said the gunman also shot him but missed.

Case investigator Police Officer 2 Mardelio Osting said they would release composite sketches of the suspects for their immediate arrest.

Tambo is the latest councilor killed in the run-up to the 2019 midterm elections.

In March 2016, councilmen Daniel Villaluna and Bienvenido Reyes Jr., supporters of then mayoralty candidate Malabon Rep. Josephine Lacson-Noel, were killed in an ambush at a gasoline station in the city. 

Oreta is seeking reelection in 2019. He is the son of former senator Tessie Aquino-Oreta, the aunt of former president Benigno Aquino III.