Former Leyte town mayor aide killed

A 42-YEAR-OLD man was shot dead by a still-unidentified assailant in barangay Pulpogan, Consolacion town, northern Cebu.

Police said there were reports that the victim, Jonathan Durano, a resident of barangay Magay, Compostela town, Cebu, was a bodyguard of Hilongos

Mayor Joy Roble.

Hilongos is a town in Leyte province.

In a phone interview, Roble said Durano was not his bodyguard but a mere supporter in the 2010 elections.

Roble said Durano was previously employed as his aide.

The mayor said Durano was once charged with indiscriminate firing.

Roble said he did not renew Durano’s contract after working for six years with the mayor’s office.

Police said Durano went to Pulpogan to meet a friend Wednesday afternoon.

Police said no claimed to have seen the shooting.

Responding police found Durano leaning on his motorcycle with a gunshot wound in the head and body.

He was rushed to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City but did not make it alive.

The victim’s wife told police that she was unaware if her husband had enemies who could be behind the killing.

Police recovered three empty .45 caliber pistol shells in the crime scene./CORRESPONDENTS NORMAN V. MENDOZA AND JOY CHERRY S. QUITO