Village chief in Compostela Valley shot dead

TAGUM CITY – Unidentified gunmen, who police said could either be communist rebels or plain robbers, shot dead a barangay (village) head in Nabunturan, Compostela Valley, late Wednesday afternoon.

Senior Superintendent Aaron Aquino, Compostela Valley police chief, said on Thursday that Colberto Tibay Sr., 50, chief of Barangay Magsaysay was attacked inside his house around 5:20 p.m.

“He died due to a gunshot wound in the head while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Tagum City,” Aquino said by phone.

He said the assailants fled on a black TMX motorcycle, which did not have license plates, after divesting the victim of his wallet and cellular phone.

“Robbery is one angle we are looking into. We are checking also if the NPA [New People’s Army] was responsible for the incident,” Aquino said.