Isabela town mayor shot dead in Quezon City—police report

MANILA, Philippines—A mayor of a town in Isabela province was shot dead outside a Quezon City inn on Tuesday night.

Supt. Pedro Sanchez, the Masambong police station commander, identified the victim as Mayor Erlinda Domingo of Maconacon, Isabela.  She was declared dead on arrival at the East Avenue Medical Center.

Police received reports that the victim was ambushed outside the Park Villa Apartelle at the corner of Examiner Road and Quezon Avenue at around 8:30 pm.

Her driver, who doubled as her bodyguard, identified by Radyo Inquirer as Bernard Plasos, based on police reports, was also rushed to the East Avenue Medical Center for a wound in the right leg.

Policemen found the mayor sprawled outside the right rear door of a maroon Mitsubishi Adventure with license plate number SJA 893, which was parked outside the inn.

The vehicle was parked at the left-most side of the parking area. Just a foot away from her hand lay a black luggage stroller.

Sanchez said they had taken a man into questioning, adding that they were securing camera footage at the entrance of the inn.

Senior Supt. Richard Albano, Quezon City Police District director, said the woman had just checked out of the inn before noon and came back to the apartelle in the evening to check in again.

“This (killing) is planned. Possibly it is election-related,” he told reporters at the crime scene.

Albano said the mayor was a regular customer at the inn and was often in Metro Manila on business.

Originally posted at 10:02 pm | Tuesday, January 22, 2013