Barangay councilor shot dead in Biñan

CAMP PACIANO RIZAL, Laguna, Philippines—A village councilor in Biñan City, Laguna was shot dead by a still unidentified assailant on Thursday evening, police said on Friday.

Augusto Espeleta, 42, a councilor in Barangay Malaban, was onboard a motorcycle when the gunman, on another motorcycle, shot the victim from behind as they were cruising along Barangay Tagapo in adjacent Sta. Rosa City at around 8:24 p.m.

Sta. Rosa police case investigator Police Officer 2 Joseph Balmaceda said Espeleta was hit in the back but still managed to bring himself to a nearby hospital.

Espeleta, however, succumbed to his injury before midnight.

Sta. Rosa City police chief Superintendent Edwin Wagan, in a phone interview, said their investigation would more likely focus on a personal motive in the attack.

“(Espeleta) is not running (in the coming elections.) He is also not known to be a supporter of any politician (in Biñan City),” Wagan said.