Lapu-Lapu City barangay chair gunned down in Bohol

CEBU CITY— The village chief in Barangay (village) Agus in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, was shot dead Sunday morning while he, his family and friends were in Clarin town, Bohol.

Jovencio Lauron, 56, was waylaid by four men on board two motorcycles in Barangay Caboy.

Lauron suffered seven gunshot wounds, including in the right face and upper left chest, SPO4 Romil Petecio said.

Initial police investigation showed that Lauron, his wife, daughter, relatives and friends arrived at the Clarin port shortly before 8 a.m. on board a family-owned motor banca.

The group hired five tricycles to bring them to their hometown of Sagbayan town to attend the annual fiesta on May 4 and 5. Lauron owned a house in the Sagbayan town proper where he planned to celebrate the town fiesta.

On the way to Sagbayan, Lauron behind the tricycle driver Rogelio Bicio, who noticed two men on a motorcycle trying to get near them.

Reaching Barangay Caboy, about five kilometers from Clarin port, the backrider of the motorcycle shot Lauron twice.

Lauron fell from the tricycle while the assailants’ motorcycle drove off toward Sagbayan.

Lauron was able to get up and sit on the road but another motorcycle came with two other men on board. The backrider then shot Lauron several times more before speeding towards Sagbayan.

Lauron was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Police found at the crime scene at least 6 empty shells and 3 slugs from .45 caliber pistol.

PO3 Ponciano Entroliso, Clarin police investigator, said they had yet to determine the motive in the killing although politics was one of the angles being looked into.