5 hurt in Ilocos chapel blast; bocap shot, killed

PAGUDPUD, Ilocos Norte – Five persons, including a councilor, were wounded when a hand grenade exploded in front of a chapel here during a quarrel over the ownership of a church lot in Barangay Tarag in this town night of June 2, police said.

Investigators identified the victims as Sanggunian Bayan member Edimar Ubasa, 36; Erwin Ubasa, 21; Erickson Agostines, 22; Romel James Bonilla, 21 and Rosario Malapit, all resident of Tarag.

In Nueva Era town also of the province, a barangay captain was killed instantly when an assassin, armed with shotgun, blasted him in Barangay Ugis also night of June 2.

A belated police report said the victim, identified as Ben Galope, was chatting with relatives in front of his house when the assailant suddenly fired at him.

After the shooting, the assailant casually walked away and disappeared in the darkness, witnesses said. -- Jun Guiang