Man in slay of council woman still unknown

SAN FERNANDO, La Union – Police are still trying to determine the identity of a lone motorcycle-riding man who shot dead a councilwoman here while the victim was on her way to another barangay afternoon of Dec. 6.

Police identified the victim as Cristina Rilloraza, number one elected kagawad of Barangay Dalumpinas Este.

She died from several bullet wounds from a Cal. 45 pistol.

A police report said Rilloraza had just left her house when the gunman appeared and fired at her several times.

She was rushed to the Lorma Medical Center but was declared dead on arrival.

The gunman, who was wearing a ski mask, escaped immediately after the incident on board an unregistered motorcycle.

Mayor Pablo Ortega said he ordered Supt. Rolando Bersola, city police chief, to dig deeper into Rilloraza’s killing to determine if politics was involved.

“This incident is so discouraging because the past barangay elections here in San Fernando were very peaceful,” he said.

Ortega said he instructed Bersola to tighten security measures in the entire city, especially as the holiday season was approaching.

He added he also instructed the chief of police to conduct checkpoints and impound unregistered motorcycles.