ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines –Unidentified assailants shot dead the spokesperson of the local Liberal Party in Basilan who was also known to be very vocal against the administration of Isabela City Mayor Cherry Lyn Akbar.
Superintendent Allan Nazaro, Isabela City police chief, said Nicater Gonzalo, in his 50s, was parking his motorcycle near his house on Bermuda Drive in Barangay (village) Aguada in Isabela City when attacked by a still undetermined number of gunmen around 9 p.m.
“The suspects appeared from behind and without words and provocation shot the victim three times,” he said.
Nazaro said Gonzalo was hit in the head and was rushed to a hospital but he died while being treated.
Arnulfo Dans, Liberal Party chairman in Basilan, said Gonzalo was very vocal against Akbar’s administration.
“He is a strong critic of the present administration here,” he said.
Dans said they were not blaming Gonzalo’s being critical of anybody for the shooting and that they were letting the police do its job.
Dans said they learned that aside from being a vocal critic of the Akbar administration, Gonzalo was also embroiled in a problem involving their family business.
“I was told before that he was booted out as the treasurer of their company. He said he received some harassment and the case had been elevated to the Department of Labor and Employment,” Dans said.
But Teddy Barandino, another friend of Gonzalo’s, said they were asking Akbar to do something to serve justice to the Gonzalo family.
“Show to the Isabela people that you have control over the police,” he said.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer tried but failed to reach Akbar. She did not return calls and did not answer text messages sent to her mobile phone number.