Barangay councilor shot dead in Cebu

CEBU CITY, Philippines – A barangay (village) councilor was shot to death by an unidentified assailant in Barangay (village) Manatad, Sibonga, Cebu at around 8 p.m. on Sunday.

Gomersindo Sabanal, 49, who was about to seek reelection in the coming barangay election, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Carcar City District Hospital.

Police Officer 2 Ederlino Bacusmo, case investigator from the Sibonga Police Station, said Sabanal was talking with his two friends while seated on a bamboo bench near his house along the road when two men riding a Suzuki motorcycle arrived. The back-rider disembarked from the motorcycle and shot Sabanal several times.

Bacusmo said Sabanal was the only target and his two companions were not hurt.

The two gunmen fled towards the next barangay after the shooting.

Bacusmo said they recovered four empty shells and one slug from a Carbine rifle in the crime scene.

Bacusmo said the assailants were wearing full-face helmets, so the witnesses could not give any description of their faces.

He added that the police have been considering politics as a possible motive behind the killing.

Bacusmo added that Sabanal was also a witness in a “case” in Carcar.