Village councilor shot dead in Ilocos Norte town

ILOCOS NORTE, Philippines – A barangay (village) councilor was killed while his companion was wounded when two men on a motorcycle shot them in Barangay Hilario here on Monday morning, police said.

Police said Hilario village councilor Prospero Abaton, 39, died instantly from bullet wounds in his face and arms. His companion, Alaric Oducayen, was shot in the right leg and arms and was taken to the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center in Batac City.

Police said Abaton, who was driving his motorcycle, and Oducayen came from a cockpit arena in Barangay Crispina and were on their way home when they were attacked at 2:30 a.m.

Investigators recovered at least seven empty shells of .45 cal. pistol and 13 empty shells of 9mm pistol from the crime scene.

Senior Inspector Jeffrey Taccad, Banna police chief, said the number of bullet shells recovered from the scene indicated that the gunmen and the victims could have exchanged fire.

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