MANILA, Philippines — A former mayor of Flora, Apayao was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the town of Flora on Tuesday night, police said Wednesday.
A report from the Police Regional Office Cordillera identified the victim as Richard de San Jose. Records from the Department of the Interior and Local Government showed that De San Jose was elected mayor of Flora town in 1998 and finished his term in 2001.
Police probers said De San Jose was having a drinking spree with his construction workers along Sampaguita Street in Poblacion West when the two armed men appeared and shot him at 9 p.m.
Police said the bullet hit De San Jose’s left shoulder and exited through his breastbone.
The suspects fled the scene after the shooting while De San Jose was rushed to the nearest hospital where he succumbed to his gunshot wound.
Recovered from the scene were an empty shell for an M16 rifle and another bullet of still unknown caliber. Police have conducted an operation to identify and arrest the gunmen.