Lawyer, driver slain in Pampanga ambush

STA. RITA, Pampanga, Philippines — A lawyer and his driver were killed in an ambush in front of a church in Barangay San Vicente in this town yesterday.

A police report identified the fatalities as Carlos Anselmo, a resident of Barangay Cabambangan in Floridablanca, and his driver Marcial Mendoza of Barangay Bayan in Sta. Maria, Bulacan.

The victims suffered multiple gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead on arrival in a hospital.

Capt. Renemer James Pornia, Sta. Rita police chief, said he deployed his men in front of the San Vicente parish church after receiving reports on the incident at about 9:20 a.m.

Initial investigation showed the victims were in a Toyota Camry when three men on two motorcycles overtook their vehicle and opened fire.  The assailants fled toward an unknown direction.

Bullet shells for a caliber .45 pistol were recovered at the scene.

Probers have yet to determine if the motive was work-related. Anselmo reportedly handled land dispute cases.

Probe team

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said he would order the creation of a task force to probe the murder of the lawyer and his driver if there are indications that they are victims of extrajudicial killings. 

In the meantime, Guevarra said he would leave it to the Philippine National Police to investigate the incident. 

“If there are any indication the case falls under Administrative Order 35 or killings arising from certain advocacies, the Department of Justice will create a special investigating team,” he said.  – With Evelyn Macairan