Isabela mayor's b’gay affairs aide shot dead

By Joan Capuna

RAMON, Isabela – A senior aide of the mayor here was shot dead while on his way home from work night of Dec. 9.

Police said victim, Freddie Manuel, a former three-term chairman of Barangay Pabel here and erstwhile head of the Liga ng mga Barangay, was executive assistant for barangay affairs of Ramon Mayor Wilfredo Tabag.

Senior Ins. Rogelio Taliping, Ramon police chief, said Manuel was on his way home aboard a service vehicle when one of two motorcycle-riding men shot him in the head.

Tabag ruled out politics in Manuel’s killing, saying the victim earlier told him he had received death threats from someone who had a personal grudge against him.

Tabag didn’t say if Manuel told him the identity of the person with the grudge.

This is the third killing of an incumbent or former barangay official in Cagayan Valley since last month.

At least 12 village chiefs have been killed throughout the region in less than two years.