2 eyed in killing of Leyte barangay officials

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Authorities are looking into two “persons of interest” (POIs) who might have served as a lookout during the killing of a barangay captain, a councilman, and a village watchman in San Isidro town, Leyte, last February 24, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

In a press briefing on Friday, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said San Isidro police are now investigating the two POIs, whom she did not name so as not to compromise the ongoing probe.

“Aside from the four gunmen who were directly involved in the shooting incident, they are looking at the possibility that two others might have served as a spotter,” Fajardo said in Filipino.

She also admitted that so far, they have no leads on the whereabouts or the identity of the four gunmen.

Although she did not reveal further details on the ongoing investigation, Fajardo also said that they are eyeing politics as a possible motive behind the killing of the victims, who were earlier identified as barangay chairman Elizalde Tabon, barangay councilor Paulo Al Mendero, and barangay tanod Rusty Salazar.

READ: Barangay captain, 2 other officers shot dead in San Isidro, Leyte

Based on previous reports, all three victims were inside Daja Diot’s barangay hall when four armed men barged in and shot them several times.

Another watchman, identified as Alex Bacor, who was standing outside the hall, got injured.