Isabela town employee shot dead on Independence Day

QUEZON, ISABELA – A 31-year-old municipal worker was shot dead by motorcycle-riding gunmen on Tuesday (June 12) as he was about to join an Independence Day biking activity at 4:50 a.m., police said.

Al Geroni Padilla, 31, was pedaling along the national highway in Barangay (village) Arellano when he was attacked, said Senior Inspector Dennis Matias, Quezon town police chief. Padilla died instantly.

Forensic investigators found a single slug from a Cal. 38 handgun but failed to recover empty shells.

Padilla’s relatives were surprised, saying he had no enemies and had seldom ventured out at night because he had no vices.

The police said investigators were looking into Padilla’s relationships and his work to ferret out leads. VILLAMOR VISAYA JR.