Bulacan board member,  driver slain in gun attack

INQUIRER FILES

CITY OF MALOLOS—A provincial board member of Bulacan and his driver were shot and killed by a lone gunman as their vehicle was stuck in traffic in Barangay Ligas here on Thursday night.

Police reports said Board Member Ramilito Capistrano was on his way home after attending a provincial board session at the capitol when the gunman fired at the vehicle’s windshield at 6:30 p.m. The 56-year-old Capistrano, who was in the front passenger seat of his Mitsubishi Montero, served as barangay chair of Caingin in San Rafael town and sat in the provincial board as federation president of the Bulacan Association of Barangay Captains.

Task group formed

Capistrano and his driver, Shedrick Suarez, 27, died instantly from multiple bullet wounds.

In a statement on Friday, Police Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan, Central Luzon regional police director, said he had ordered the creation of a special investigation task group to lead the probe of Capistrano’s murder.

“We are thoroughly exploring all angles to determine possible motives. Every available resource will be utilized to get to the bottom of this tragic event, and we are currently gathering evidence that will lead to the identification of the perpetrators,” Maranan said.

Assurance to kin

Investigators said over 20 of the more than 30 bullet holes were found on the passenger side of Capistrano’s vehicle. Crime scene investigators recovered several 9mm shell casings at the site.

Two staff members accompanying Capistrano managed to escape by jumping out of the vehicle, police said.

Maranan assured the public and the victims’ families of a “swift resolution” of the case.

“While all cases are treated with utmost importance, this particular incident will be given top priority due to the involvement of a local official,” he said.

Police Maj. Norweda Usman, Bulacan police information officer, said their information showed that Capistrano was not running for any elective post in the 2025 elections.

Gov. Daniel Fernando, Vice Gov. Alexis Castro and the provincial board condemned the attack.

Fernando assured the families of Capistrano and Suarez that the provincial government would take all necessary steps to speed up the investigation and deliver justice for the victims. INQ