Police probe slay of Leyte town mayor’s sister

TACLOBAN CITY — Policemen are conducting an investigation to identify the assailants in the killing of the sister of a town mayor in Kananga town, Leyte on Wednesday, Dec. 21.

Juanita Veloso, 77, the older sister of Mayor Remedio Veloso of San Isidro town, suffered gunshot wounds on her body.

Mayor Veloso’s wife Leleena, 61, and driver Edmil Bacay were unscathed.

Corporal Nicanor Romawak of the Kananga police said the victims were on board a sports utility vehicle around 4 p.m. on Wednesday when the perpetrators, who were on board another vehicle, fired at them.

“Initially, we are considering politics as one of the possible angles,” he said in a phone interview.

Romawak said Mayor Veloso owned the vehicle that transported the victims.

“It could be a case of mistaken identity. The suspects would have thought that the mayor was on board that vehicle,” he said.

Recovered from the crime scene were 40 empty shells of a 5.56 mm firearm.

Juanita had just arrived from the United States last week to spend Christmas in Leyte.

Councilor Carmichael Villarino, San Isidro town councilor and a relative of the victims, said they were shocked by what happened.

“The entire town of San Isidro is shaken by this unfortunate incident. The family is seeking an immediate solution to this case,” he said in a phone interview.

Villarino disclosed that Mayor Veloso has been receiving death threats which prompted the provincial police office to provide him with security personnel.

“I think politics have something to do with this incident,” he said.

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