Gunman in face mask shoots ex-Quezon town mayor

LUCENA CITY – The former mayor of the town of Pagbilao in Quezon province is in critical condition after he was shot by a face mask-wearing gunman on Tuesday afternoon.

Romeo Portes, 73, who is also the father of incumbent Mayor Shierre Ann Portes–Palicpic, was shot twice by a still unidentified gunman while the former seated in a chair in front of KGP building along J.P. Rizal street in Barangay Bukal around 5 p.m., said Police Colonel Audie Madrideo, Quezon police director, in a report.

The incumbent mayor has not issued any public statement about her father’s shooting, which also happened on the eve of the town’s fiesta celebration.

Portes was rushed to MMG Hospital in Lucena City and was later transferred to St. Luke’s Hospital Taguig City for surgery, the report added.

A footage from a closed circuit television camera that was forwarded to the Inquirer by Madrideo showed that the assailant came aboard a motorcycle driven by his cohort, who was wearing a crash helmet.

After disembarking from the vehicle, the gunman – in brown short pants, wearing a face mask, bull cap and with his right hand inside his gray jacket’s pocket – casually walked ten steps towards Portes, pulled a handgun from his pocket and shot the victim on his face at close range.

The gunman fired another shot at Portes after the victim fell on the ground, before he returned to the motorcycle to escape.

The assailant also fired a shot towards the two persons who came out from the building but missed.

The building is owned by the former mayor, who resides in Barangay Ikirin.

EDV