New village councilman slain in Cotabato gun attack

The campaign poster of Edmar P. Perero who was elected as the No. 2 village “kagawad” of Barangay Dolores, Antipas, Cotabato province. (Photo from LGU Dolores)

COTABATO CITY — Unidentified gunmen shot dead on Tuesday morning a newly proclaimed village councilman of Antipas town, Cotabato province.

He was the second recently elected village official in the province to be killed in a gun attack in seven days.

The Antipas municipal police station, in a report to Brigadier General Jimili Macaraeg, Police Regional Office 12 director, identified the victim as Edmar Perero, 34, of Barangay Dolores.

In a statement, the Antipas police condemned the shooting of Perero and called on anyone who has information to help them locate the perpetrators.

Perero was driving a tricycle heading toward Barangay Magsaysay from Dolores, traversing an isolated concrete road near a banana plantation when attacked by motorcycle-riding gunmen.

READ: PNP nabs 12 in shooting of 2 Cotabato brgy kagawad bets, resident

Initial police investigation showed that Perero ran away after getting hit in the body but fell on a drainage canal as the suspects fired more shots.

Police found empty shells for a .45 pistol and 9-mm pistol at the crime scene. The police said the motive of the attack was still unknown as of posting time.

Perero ranked second in the race for village council seats of Barangay Dolores during the Oct. 30 polls.

READ: Masbate village councilor bet shot dead

On Nov. 1, a newly elected village councilman in Midsayap town was shot dead by his cousin after a heated argument.

Lieutenant Colonel John Miridel Calinga, Midsayap police chief, identified the victim as Suharto Antilino, newly proclaimed barangay kagawad of Poblacion 3.

Calinga said the unidentified gunman was the cousin of the 35-year-old Antilino. Before the shooting, the two had a heated argument.

The suspect remains at large.