P’sinan ex-vice mayor, village chief shot dead

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – A former vice-mayor of this town and his wife were shot dead Wednesday night in Sampaloc, Manila.

Philippine National Police spokesman Agrimero Cruz Jr. in Camp Crame, identified the victims as Ramon Arcinue, 55 and his wife Zorahayda, 55, a village captain.

Initial investigation revealed that an unidentified gunman shot the victims at close range when they were alighting from the vehicle in front of their rented apartment in Sampaloc around 10:50 p.m.

The victims were rushed to a hospital but were declared dead by the attending physician after an hour of medical attention.

The couple was ambushed in front of their children’s rented apartment.
According to a report by Sampaloc station commander Supt. Rolando Balasbas, Ramon Arcinue and his wife, Zorahayda, both 55, had dinner with their two sons at a mall and had just arrived at the apartment on Maceda Street when they were attacked.

Zorahayda was the incumbent barangay chairperson of Barangay Poblacion in Lingayen. Their son, JC, will graduate this March.

Ramon was reportedly heard having an argument with the gunman before he was shot.
Zorahayda, upon hearing the noise outside the apartment, went outside and was also attacked.

They were shot in the head.

The attacker spared their sons, along with other family members who rushed the couple to the University of Santo Tomas Hospital. They were declared dead about an hour later.

Witnesses said the attacker fled on foot and boarded a bus along Espana Boulevard.

Pangasinan Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil, who went to the hospital after learning of the attack, condemned the killing and assured the couple’s relatives including their nephew, Sual, Pangasinan Mayor Johnb Arcinue – that he will follow up the case and coordinate security measures for the family.

Bataoil, a retired police officer and a former Philippine National Police spokesman, said he already talked to the officer of the Manila Police District “to leave no stone unturned” and had advised Pangasinan police director Senior Supt. Rosueto Ricaforte to assist, coordinate and share information.”

Lingayen Mayor Ernesto Castaneda Jr. said he was saddened by the Arcinue couple’s death.

In March last year, Ramon and Zorahayda were wounded in an ambush along the national highway in Barangay Biec, Binmaley town.