Drunken ex-vice mayor in shooting spree gunned down

BATANGAS CITY—An apparently intoxicated former vice mayor of the town of San Pascual in Batangas, who had been indiscriminately firing his gun, was shot dead by an unidentified assailant on Wednesday night.

Chief Insp. Manuel Maligaya, San Pascual police chief, identified the victim as Alfredo Aldover, 61, vice mayor of San Pascual in 1995. Maligaya said Aldover, who appeared to be intoxicated and had been firing his gun, was walking along the national road at the town proper when shot in the back by an unidentified suspect past 11 p.m.

Prior to the killing, Aldover came from a drinking binge with friends and was said to have engaged one of them in an argument, said Maligaya.

Maligaya said it appeared that the attack on Aldover was an act of retaliation.

When Aldover ran out of bullets, someone from behind shot him. But it was dark so bystanders could not identify the gunman, said Maligaya. Aldover was rushed to the nearest hospital but was declared dead on arrival, he said.

Maligaya said police are questioning witnesses and Aldover’s drinking buddies.