INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
LUCENA CITY — A 65-year-old barangay councilman was gunned down early Friday, Jan. 19, by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Calamba City, Laguna province.
The Calamba City police identified the victim as Mario Castillo Cogay Jr. of Barangay Canlubang.
Initial reports said Cogay was drinking coffee on the balcony of his house when two men aboard a motorcycle arrived and, without provocation, repeatedly shot him in different parts of the body.
Investigators said the assailants fled after the incident.
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The bloodied barangay official was rushed to the nearest hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
Citing witnesses, police said the motorcycle driver wore a black jacket, denim pants, and a silver helmet, while his back rider had a black crash helmet.
An investigation is ongoing to establish the motive behind the killing.
Police launched a manhunt operation to identify and arrest the culprits.
Investigators were checking if there was a security camera around the crime scene for possible identification of the assailants.
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The victim was serving as officer-in-charge of Barangay Canlubang pending the resolution of an election protest between the contenders for the chairmanship after the barangay election in October last year.
Meanwhile, Barangay Canlubang strongly condemned the killing.
“Violence has no place in our barangay,” the village declared in a post on their official Facebook page.
The post said the barangay officials and the villagers are demanding a speedy investigation to serve justice to the victim. INQ