San Pablo village chief gunned down

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna-A lone man shot dead a barangay chief of San Pablo City who was standing outside his van parked at a government office in the city on Monday, police said yesterday.

Billy Palma, 56, chair of Barangay VI-B, suffered four bullet wounds in the body and died on the spot past 9 a.m., according to Supt. Ferdinand de Castro, city police chief.

Before the attack, Palma had been inside the Land Transportation Office in Barangay San Nicolas for an unspecified transaction. He returned to his van to pick up some documents, De Castro said.

The gunman escaped on board a motorcycle.

Police have yet to determine the motive.