Killers strike as athletes, execs walk Tuguegarao’s streets

TUGUEGARAO CITY—Motorcycle-riding gunmen killed a man in this city moments before thousands of provincial officials and athletes paraded around the city’s streets for the Friday (Feb. 23) opening of the Cagayan Valley regional athletic (Cavraa) meet.

Gunmen shot dead Marcial Cabalza, 45, who was standing in front of the barangay (village) hall of Caritan Centro here in the morning.

“Witnesses said the suspects wore helmets,” said Chief Insp. Ruben Verbo, Tuguegarao city deputy police chief.

He said investigators are checking if Cabalza was among those listed in the police drug watch list.

In the afternoon, about 9,000 athletes and officials from the region’s five provinces and four cities paraded around the city for the Cavraa opening ceremonies.

Thousands more trooped to the Cagayan sports complex, wanting to see two of the country’s sports idols, boxing icon Sen. Manny Pacquiao and volleyball star Alyssa Valdez.

Verbo said the police are securing the delegates. /jpv