Bocap slain in Ecija City

By Liam Anacleto

SAN JOSE CITY – A barangay chairman was shot dead by motorcycle-riding gunmen her last week, police said.

Senior Supt. Ricardo Marquez, PNP provincial director, identified the victim as Rogelio Martin here of Barangay Tondod.

Martin suffered two gunshot wounds and died while being operated on at the Heart of Jesus Hospital.

Police Supt. Sydney Villaflor, San Jose police chief, said the victim was shot at the boundary of barangays Sinipit Bubon and Camanacsacan, some 10 km from the city proper when the still unidentified suspects riding an unlicensed Yamaha RS motorcycle shot him at around 11:50 a.m. on Feb. 20.

Villaflor said police have picked up for questioning a certain Julie Pedro, reportedly the president of the tricycle operators and drivers’ association in Tondod who reportedly figured in an altercation with Martin for allegedly attempting to burn the office of secretary to the barangay.

Villaflor said when his men tried to arrange a dialogue between Martin and Pedro to peacefully settle their conflict, Martin struck Pedro’s head with a monobloc chair, the impact of which destroyed the chair. Later, Martin filed a case for arson against Pedro before the city prosecutor’s office.

Villaflor said they have subjected Pedro to a paraffin test, the results of which are still being awaited at the PNP Crime Laboratory in Cabanatuan City.