Farm caretaker of Abra gov shot dead

BANGUED, Abra — A farm caretaker of Gov. Eustaquio Bersamin was shot to death by an alleged close aide of Association of Barangay Chairmen president Ryan Luna over an old grudge in Barangay Riang, Penarrubia town Wednesday night.

Police identified the victim as Angelito Badona Siobal, 46, from the same barangay.

The suspected gunman, Roel Bermudes Afroilan, was arrested a few hours after the shooting.

Chief Supt. Samuel Diciano, deputy director for administration of the Police Regional Office in the Cordillera, said Siobal and a friend were sitting on the shoulder of the Bangued-Bucay provincial road when the motorcycle- riding suspect appeared and confronted Siobal, resulting in a heated exchange of words.

Afroilan then pulled out a gun and shot Siobal several times before fleeing. The scene of the crime operatives team recovered seven empty shells and two slugs of 9mm bullets. – Dexter A. See