Village chief killed, 3 others injured in Isabela ambush

SANTO TOMAS, Isabela –– A 40-year-old barangay captain was killed and three of his companions were injured in an ambush here on Wednesday evening.

Police Capt. Frances Littaua, Isabela police spokesperson, identified the fatality as Bubug village chief Manuel Ramento and the wounded as village councilor May Glenn Padre, a certain Noimi Gumtang, and 6-year-old Althea Nicole Gumtang, all residents of Bubug in this town.

The victims were on their way home when unidentified armed men shot them in Barangay Bagabag, police said.

Ramento and Padre suffered bullet wounds in different parts of their bodies while the Gumtangs had minor injuries.

The village chief was declared dead on arrival at the Milagros District Hospital while Padre was transferred to the Cagayan Valley Medical Center.

Police have yet to determine the identity of the assailants and the motive behind the attack. Villamor Visaya Jr. /lzb