Gunmen in slay of Abra councilor, bizman hunted

BANGUED, Abra – Police are now pursuing armed men who repeatedly shot dead a municipal councilor and businessman men at the porch of the cattle market office in barangay Talogtog, Dolores town around 4:30 a.m. on July 11.

Senior Supt. Benjamin M. Lusad, director of the Abra provincial police office, identified the victim as Rogelio Pudol Talingdan, 52, married, businessman and councilor of La Paz town who is residing at barangay San Gregorio, La Paz, Abra.

            

“Our investigators are still conducting investigation to ascertain the motive of the councilor’s murder,” Lusad said, saying law enforcers are now pursuing still undetermined number of armed men who shot the victim while he was preparing to sell his cattle in the said place.

            

Initial police investigation showed the victim was at the porch of the cattle market office transacting business with some clients when he was fired upon by still undetermined number of armed men who positioned themselves in strategic areas near the office.

            

Responding policemen and market goers immediately rushed the victim to the nearest health facility but he was pronounced dead on arrival by attending physicians due to multiple gunshot wounds in the different parts of his head and body.

            

Elements of the scene of the crime operation team that responded to the crime scene recovered multiple spent shells of a Cal. 45 pistol which is believed to have been used by the suspects in the perpetration of the crime.

            

Lusad said interviews are now being conducted on possible witnesses and relatives of the victim to determine the motive of the councilor’s murder who was gunned down while transacting business in the cattle market.

Investigation showed Talingdan was winding up negotiations with a cattle seller and had proceeded to the market’s porch when the gunman sprang from behind and shot him.

Before fleeing, the gunman took Talingdan’s jacket where the councilor reportedly kept P500,000 in cash.