Bato’s coordinator shot dead in Abra

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — A provincial coordinator of Sen. Ronald de la Rosa in Abra was shot dead by an unidentified assailant in San Juan town on Sunday night.

Leo Barbosa, 42, was talking to someone on the phone in front of his house in Barangay Guimba when he was killed at past 8 p.m.

Barbosa, a former barangay captain, was declared dead on arrival at the Abra Provincial Hospital from a gunshot wound in the head, according to Inspector Raquel Alonzo, information officer of the Abra police. 

Gov. Ma. Jocelyn Bernos condemned the killing. She expressed belief it was not politically motivated as the victim was no longer holding any government or elective post.  

Earlier, Barbosa distributed thermal scanners and face masks donated by De la Rosa for residents of Abra, which has been on lockdown for three weeks now due to the coronavirus disease 2019.

Sources said he was recently at odds with some individuals for allegedly breaking quarantine protocols.

Barbosa recently criticized Mayor Meynardo Bautista Jr. on social media over the supposed health protocol requirement being imposed in San Juan.

Barbosa was the second former village chief killed in Abra in just four days.  

On Friday, Robert Millare, 39, former chief of Barangay Bañacao in Bangued town, was killed by armed men who dragged him to a nearby river.

On March 25, Robin Bergonia, 25, former chief of  Barangay Lingtan, also in Bangued, was shot dead allegedly by a barangay chairman and his son.

Two days later, Cherry Belisario, 39, of Barangay Budac, Tayum, was killed near a quarantine checkpoint.