5 killed in Leyte barangay hall attack

ORMOC, Philippines — Four unidentified men barged into a village hall and shot dead five people, including the barangay chairman, in San Isidro, Leyte on  Saturday night.

Barangay chairman Elizalde Tabon, watchman Rusty Salazar and councilman Paulo Al Mindero died at the scene of the incident that occurred in Barangay Daja Diot.

Two others, whose identities were not immediately available, died in a hospital.

Police said the victims were finalizing the list of beneficiaries of an educational assistance when the suspects arrived on two motorcycles.

The assistance was set for distribution by Rep. Anna Victoria Veloso-Tuazon of the third district of Leyte through the help of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Tabon was a supporter of former congressman Vicente Veloso, father of Veloso-Tuazon.

Checkpoints have been set up around the municipality to prevent the suspects from escaping.

The attack was the latest in a series of killings  that occurred in the province within a week.

A day earlier, kagawad Tete Cajes was shot dead in Barangay Tag-abaca, Leyte town.

On Feb. 21, Rolando Palacio, kagawad of Barangay Sta. Rosa in Tabango town, was shot dead in nearby Barangay Tugas.

On Feb. 16, Patricio Laude, chairman of Barangay Catmon in Ormoc, was shot dead near the house of kagawad Christopher Masimong, who was wounded in the attack.

The Ormoc police announced yesterday that it has identified three persons of interest in the killing of Laude.

Erwin Portillo, Leyte police director, said charges have been filed in connection with the killings that occurred in the province’s third district.