Quezon town treasurer in critical condition, wife dead in ambush

LUCENA CITY, Philippines — The municipal treasurer of General Nakar, Quezon is in critical condition while his wife died after they were ambushed by two men on a motorcycle in Infanta town on Sunday afternoon, police said.

Senior Supertindent Dionardo Carlos, Quezon police chief, identified the fatality as Amelia Astejada, wife of Pio Astejada, who was seriously wounded in the shooting.

In a phone interview, General Nakar Mayor Levigildo Rozul identified Pio as the municipal treasurer while his wife Amelia was a teacher.

Quoting initial police report, Carlos said the couple was aboard a van traversing the road in Barangay (village) Banugao in Infanta at around 2 p.m. when they were fired upon by the unidentified men on a motorcycle.

Amelia was declared dead on arrival in a local hospital while Pio was transferred to an undisclosed hospital due this critical condition, said Carlos.

Police investigators have yet to disclose possible motives behind the shooting.

Rozul also declined to give any possible reasons for the ambush.

“But Pio is one of the members of the election board of canvassers. He is in possession of sensitive documents,” Rozul said.