Village councilman gunned down in Abra

MANILA, Philippines — Authorities are looking into the murder of a village councilman in the province of Abra Monday afternoon, police said Tuesday.

Abra police director Senior Superintendent Mando Lagiwid said investigation on the death of Cabaroan village councilman Arthur Alagao was ongoing, and that his men have set up checkpoints in Tayum town, Abra.

“We arrested Ilarde Jaquias in a dragnet operation yesterday. He was riding a motorcycle within the area and was carrying a .45 caliber pistol. We are still checking if he may have been the gunman and have subjected (Jaquias) to a paraffin test,” said Lagiwid.

He added that Jaquias has been taken into custody by the Tayum police and faces a case of illegal possession of firearms.

Alagao was shot to death by an unidentified gunman at around 6:30 p.m. Monday at Sitio (sub-village) in Cabaroan village in Tayum town, Abra.