Taxi driver sought for killing of Comelec official in Iloilo City

ILOILO CITY–  Police are now looking for a taxi driver tagged in the killing of an Iloilo town election officer during a traffic dispute in Iloilo City Sunday evening.

Police said initial investigation showed that Raymund Valera, election officer of Dumangas town in Iloilo, was shot dead due to a traffic dispute rather than his work as an official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Police have been looking for the lone suspect, taxi driver Rodney de los Santos, who fled after allegedly shooting Valera at an intersection in Molo District about 10 p.m., Senior Insp, Rio Maymay, Molo police station chief, said.

Valera, 52, died after an hour while being treated at the Medical City hospital. The bullet first hit his right arm and went through piercing his lungs, Maymay said.

Maymay said that based on footages from a security camera, Valera and De los Reyes had an altercation near the intersection.

Police said the victim was driving his silver Izusu Crosswind when the suspect on board a Melvin taxi with body number 0538 fired at the car of the victim several times.

The management of the taxi company assured the police they would help the police in the investigation and in locating De los Santos.  SFM