Pangasinan town councilor shot dead

STO. TOMAS, Pangasinan, Philippines —  A municipal councilor running for vice mayor in next year’s midterm elections was shot dead here yesterday morning.

Benjamin Oculto Jr. of Barangay San Marcos was declared dead on arrival at the Dr. Chan Hospital due to multiple gunshot wounds, according to Chief Superintendent Romulo Sapitula, Ilocos region police director.

Oculto was walking toward his car in Barangay Poblacion West when he was shot by one of four men in a Toyota Corolla parked nearby.

Before fleeing, the suspects opened fire at responding police officers, triggering a brief encounter.

After the firefight, authorities arrested one of the suspects, identified as Jun Jun Vidal, 40, of Hermosa, Bataan.

Vidal reportedly suffered gunshot wounds in the back and shoulder. His companions abandoned him.

Police recovered from the suspect a loaded rifle and bullets for a .45 caliber pistol.

Probers have yet to determine the motive for the killing.

Village watchman gunned down

Meanwhile, in Ilocos Sur, a village watchman died while another was wounded in an attack by motorcycle-riding assailants in Narvacan town at dawn yesterday.

Jaime Abrigo and Ronald Cabusas were on a motorcycle on their way home from work when they were shot in Barangay Paratong.

Abrigo died at the scene while Cabusas suffered injuries after he was thrown off the motorcycle.

3 found dead

On the same day, three men were found dead in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

The fatalities – identified as Mark Anthony Alcantara, Daniel Juanico and Roberto Dayaran Jr. – were found in Barangay Paliparan 3 at around 12:30 a.m. Their bodies bore gunshot wounds.

Police said Alcantara and Juanico were on their watchlist as drug users while Dayaran was reportedly involved in robbery and theft cases in the province. – With Raymund Catindig