3 killed, Quezon board member hurt in Candelaria shooting

LUCENA CITY, Philippines—Quezon Provincial Board Member Macario Boongaling barely escaped death but three other persons were killed on the spot in a shooting incident in Candelaria, Quezon early Wednesday, Quezon’s top police official said.

Quoting an initial police field report, Senior Supt. Valeriano de Leon  said that at around 3:45 a.m. Boongaling and Teodoro Mendoza, head of the barangay police in the village of Pahinga Sur, while conducting a routine security patrol in the area flagged down an Innova van with unidentified men inside.

The report said the occupants of the vehicle fired at Boongaling, who was hit on the left hip.

Despite his injury, the Quezon board member managed to fire back and hit the still unidentified driver of the van, who died on the spot, police said.

Police said an undetermined number of other men in the van escaped on foot, leaving behind their vehicle.

Two civilians, Crisanto Tria and Czarina Tria, who were in passing tricycle were caught in the crossfire and died on the spot from gunshot wounds, police said.

Boongaling was rushed to a hospital in Lucena.

Candelaria police investigators found one Carbine rifle, one .45-caliber pistol and one magazine for an M16 rifle inside the van.

Candelaria Mayor Ferdinand Maliwanag said the incident was not politically motivated.

“My town is peaceful. Mr. Boongaling was just on his routine security patrol against robbers when the incident happened,” he said over the phone.

According to Maliwanag, Boongaling’s farm in the area has been robbed several times.

Boongaling is the president of Quezon association of barangay chairmen who sits on the provincial council as ex-officio member.