Businesswoman shot but survived Albuera attack

LEYTE, Philippines — The peace that Albuera, Leyte residents attained after the Kerwin Espinosa drug syndicate was dismantled was shattered once more with the shooting of a 40-year-old businesswoman at around 8 a.m. yesterday, in front of the Albuera Municipal Hall.

The businesswoman was identified as Mercy Todio Villar, a resident of the town’s Barangay Poblacion, who runs a lending business, while her husband is a seaman.

Police investigator Police Officer 2 Dominic Albedon said Villar was backing out her blue Kia Picanto from the parking lot in front of the Municipal Hall when a backrider of a motorcycle alighted and shot her three times.

Villar was however only hit once on the left side of her body. She is now in stable condition at the Ormoc Doctor’s Hospital.

Albedon said the police are looking at many angles, but they are inclined to believe that it was business-related. There was no CCTV nearby or outside the Municipal Hall that could have footage of the incident to help the police identify the gunman.