SK councilor, 4 others dead in Masbate shooting

LEGAZPI CITY — An unidentified number of gunmen shot and killed four persons, including a Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) councilor, Friday night in Aroroy town in Masbate province, police said.

Police Officer 2 Haidelyn Arevalo of Aroroy town told the Inquirer that the victims were having a drinking session at 9:15 p.m. at the house of Nabongsoran village chief Leo Cabarles when the shooting happened.

Village watchman Ariel Madrilejos, 30; SK councilor John Paul Cristobal, 19; and Dijie Cabarles were all dead on the spot, while Leo’s 21-year-old son Jeo died on the way to the hospital.

Ricky Alejo, 29, also a village watchman, died at the Masbate Provincial Hospital in Masbate City while Jury Cabarles, chief village watchman, was still recovering in the hospital.

Leo claimed that one of the motives in the shooting may be revenge, according to Chief Inspector Edgar Valencia, Aroroy police chief. It is still unclear if the alleged revenge is politics-related.

Valencia said 19 cartridges of M16 rifle and four cartridges of caliber .45 gun were found in the crime scene.

Investigation was ongoing as of this writing.