2 village chiefs killed in Batangas, Zamboanga del Sur

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — Two barangay captains were shot dead in separate ambush incidents on Saturday night in Batangas and Zamboanga del Sur.

Barangay captain Napoleon Sambayan, of Anilao proper in Batangas, was driving his Mitsubishi Mirage (AWA-99100) on his way home when he was waylaid by unidentified armed men in a sedan along P. Torres street, at around 7:23 p.m. in Barangay Antipolo del Norte, Lipa City.

According to Superintendent Chitadel Gaoiran, Philippine National Police spokesman for Calabarzon (Region 4-A), Sambayan was brought by responding police officers to NL Villa Medical Center but was pronounced dead on arrival from multiple gunshot wounds.

Witnesses told probers that the suspects fled toward Padre Garcia in Batangas after the shooting.

Investigators have not yet established the motive for the shooting.

In Molave town, Zamboanga del Sur, motorcycle-riding assailants shot dead Teofilo Gulanin Niez Jr., 54.

Niez was the chairman of Barangay Dontolan in Molave. His companion, Estrella Hinoqin, 39, the barangay’s record keeper, was wounded.

Niez died at the scene while Hinoqin was rushed to Salug Valley Medical Center for treatment.

Chief Inspector Helen Galvez, Police Regional Office 9 spokesperson said the victims were riding their motorcycle when the suspects shot them several times at 9:40 p.m. in Sitio Purok Paglaum, Barangay Mabuhay.

Galvez said police were investigating several angles on the killing. – With Emmanuel Tupas, Arnell Ozaeta