Villaba, Leyte vice mayor shot dead

ORMOC CITY, Philippines – Vice Mayor Claudio "Calaw" Larrazabal of Villaba town in Leyte, around 42 kilometers from this city, was killed by two unidentified assailants while he was taking lunch at a restobar, which his family owns, at around 11:45 a.m. yesterday.

The vice mayor's companions at that time, whose names are being withheld, said the vice mayor had just started taking his meal when a solitary gunman went in and immediately shot him on the head. Only one shot was fired because the gun jammed.

The witnesses, who were on another table, said they turned to look at where the shot came and saw the vice mayor ran towards the door. They even tried grappling with the gunman but lost their grip on him when they heard another burst of gunfire from outside.

The gunfire, this time, came from outside where the vice mayor ran to. Another assailant, probably a lookout, had also begun shooting in rapid fire at the already wounded vice-mayor. Both the assailants were able to escape.

The witnesses said they did not bother running after the gunmen because they were more concerned of Larrazabal's welfare.

The vice mayor's daughter Claudine, who was with him at the restobar went hysterical, and begged them to bring her dad to the hospital. Claudine is still in shock and refused to be interviewed.

The vice mayor was lifted unto the back of his pickup and brought to the OSPA-Farmers Medical Center in Ormoc City. He was, however, declared dead on arrival.

Information was also relayed to the relatives that at least 16 slugs of a .45-caliber were recovered from the crime scene.

It was learned that Larrazabal had just come from presiding over the weekly session of the Municipal Council at the town hall.

Councilor Felix Albano Jr. said the vice mayor was even the one who drove them on his Pajero that he let them borrow, for a short trip to the next town of Tabango. It was in Tabango that Albano, together with three other councilors, said they heard of Larrazabal's shooting.

Larrazabal was a three-term councilor and three-term mayor of Villaba before he ran for vice mayor in 2013.

The vice mayor, who belonged to the prominent Larrazabal clan in western Leyte, was the uncle of former  Comelec commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal and incumbent Ormoc City Vice Mayor Leo Carmelo Locsin Jr.

Calaw is survived by his wife Juliet and two daughters, Claudine and Julca.