Ecija village chief slain by motorcycle-riding gunmen

CABANATUAN CITY – A village chief was killed on Monday by motorcycle riding gunmen at the Science City of Muñoz, a belated police report said on Wednesday.

Danilo Paca, Sr., the 50-year-old barangay captain of Pandalla, was ambushed at 3 p.m. as he drove a tricycle carrying village treasurer Jocelyn Esmeña along the village road.

Paca was shot several times in the head and was declared dead on arrival at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Hospital in nearby San Jose City, according to PO2 Raymund Dingle, the investigator.

Paca was the second village leader to be killed in Nueva Ecija this month. Talavera town Barangay Captain George Mangalindan of Caputican was killed on Sept. 18 by two men.

Senior Supt. Manuel Cornel, Nueva Ecija police director, said 155 of the 849 village leaders in the province have not been cooperating with the police Oplan Tokhang, which requires policemen and village officials to visit the homes of drug suspects and persuade them to surrender.

At least 20 village leaders were in the police drug watchlist, Cornel said. JE