Slay of councilor shocks Quezon town; mayor condemns murder

Orlando Barsomo —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

LUCENA CITY—A town councilor in Dolores, Quezon, described by his peers as “well-liked,” was shot and killed early Friday by a lone gunman, leaving local officials in shock and disbelief.

Mayor Orlan Calayag said the whole town was in a “state of shock” following what he described as the “senseless killing” of Councilor Orlando Barsomo, 47, who was shot by a still unidentified assailant while the official was doing his morning exercise earlier in the day.

“We strongly condemn [the murder]… He (Barsomo) was one of our town’s most respected and well-liked politicians,” the mayor said in a phone interview on Friday.

Calayag ordered the local police to immediately arrest the gunman, who was already the subject of a massive manhunt operation.

An initial investigation showed that Barsomo was doing his morning routine of walking in Barangay Dagatan at 3:15 a.m. when he was shot by the assailant.

Police said the gunman immediately fled the scene and left Barsomo lying dead on the side of the street.

Investigators were checking if there was a security camera around the crime scene for possible identification of the gunman, Calayag said.

Police have yet to establish the motive behind the killing, the mayor added.

‘Unblemished’ service

According to Calayag, Barsomo’s 20 years in government service were “unblemished.”

“He had no history of having enemies, altercations, or even raising his voice against anyone,” Calayag said of his party-mate in the Nacionalista Party.

Barsomo served as Dagatan barangay chair for three terms. He was serving his last term as councilor when he was slain.

Calayag said he was with Barsomo on Thursday afternoon.

“I’ve known him as an early morning walker for the past more than 10 years. He loved to walk as a form of exercise,” he said.

Calayag ordered that the flag at the town hall be flown at half-mast to pay tribute to the slain town official.

The local government of Dolores recognized the contributions of Barsomo to the progress and development of the locality at the base of Mt. Banahaw.

He was described by his colleagues as “a big man with a big heart.”

Other local officials, employees and residents of Dolores condoled with the Barsomo family as they also called for justice for his death.

Last July, Danilo Amat, a former vice mayor of Dolores, was also gunned down while driving his car in neighboring San Pablo City, Laguna province.

His three former bodyguards were arrested and charged with murder. The police said politics and personal grudge were the motives for the killing.

—DELFIN MALLARI JR.

READ: Quezon town councilor gunned down