Village chief survives attack in Cagayan, but companion killed

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—A village chairperson survived a Tuesday afternoon but her companion was killed by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Tuguegarao City.

Farmer Wilfredo Uclos, 60, Centro East barangay (village) captain Jennifer Tan of Ballesteros town, and a passenger identified only as “Sheng sheng,” were on board a black Isuzu MU-X sports utility vehicle along Ugac Sur village when they were attacked at 3:45 p.m., according to Tuguegarao police.

The gunmen drove alongside the vehicle, aimed a gun at the passenger’s seat and fired at Uclos, along Luna Street.

Tan immediately proceeded to the Saint Paul Hospital but Uclos was pronounced dead on arrival. At press time, it was not clear whether Tan or the third passenger sustained injuries in the shooting.

Police said Uclos was in the local drug watchlist. In May, law enforcers seized P325,000-worth of illegal drugs in a raid at two of his brothers’ houses in Mabuttal West and Centro West in Ballesteros.