MANILA, Philippines — A former barangay chairman was killed in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro after a motorcycle rider opened fire at a Land Transportation Office (LTO) checkpoint, wounding two more including a deputy officer of the agency.
According to Calapan police, LTO Calapan District Office Assistant Chief Gerardo Garcia and other officers stopped the rider at their checkpoint in Barangay Canubing I at 7:42 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7.
The officers asked for the rider’s official receipt and certificate of registration for the motorcycle.
When the rider could not present the documents asked, as the officers were proceeding to impound his motorcycle, he drew his gun and fired multiple shots, hitting Garcia and two bystanders: Angeles Marasigan, former Barangay Canubing I captain; and Baco town resident Bernaldo Diño Jr.
The suspect then fled the scene toward the Calapan City proper, according to the police report.
Garcia and Marasigan were rushed to the MMG Hospital, while Diño was rushed to the Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital.
Marasigan was declared dead at 11:58 a.m. that day.
Police said the suspect was wearing a black jacket and a black nutshell helmet on a Suzuki Raider 150.
His plate number and the caliber of his firearm remain undetermined.
Later that day, the Mimaropa Regional Forensic Unit recovered six pieces of fired cartridge cases and two fired bullets from the scene.
Calapan police said it was still conducting a hot pursuit operation to apprehend the suspect.
On Thursday evening, Calapan City Mayor Malou Flores-Morillo expressed her condolences for Marasigan in a Facebook post.
Morillo said in Filipino, “Despite his passing, his achievements, compassion, and service to his community will remain in our hearts and memories, especially among those he served
“May we achieve justice and continue to unite in the pursuit of truth and peace. We stand with you in your fight, and rest assured, we will not abandon you in the search for justice,” she added in Filipino.
In a statement on Friday, LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II condemned the shooting.
READ: 2 dead, including gunman, in shooting rampage in Oriental Mindoro jail
Mendoza said, “We in the LTO join his family in praying for his recovery from the gunshot wounds he suffered as a result of this violence”
“On my part, I assure the family of Assistant District Office chief Gerardo Garcia that I will exert all the efforts in seeking justice for this incident by ensuring that the perpetrator is arrested and placed behind bars,” he added.