Ex-priest gunned down in Masbate

LEGAZPI CITY – A former Catholic priest was killed by two unidentified men in Mobo town, Masbate on Tuesday morning.

Aldrin Aganan, 49, was riding his motorcycle on his way to Masbate City when he was shot by gunmen in Barangay Tugbo at around 7:50 a.m., said Senior Supt. Froilan Elopre, Masbate police director.

Aganan sustained gunshot wounds in different parts of the body that resulted in his death.

The gunmen, on board a motorcycle, immediately fled toward Sitio Dagat Dagatan in the same village after the shooting, Elopre said.

According to him, they were still looking for leads on the possible motive of the killing. He said they were looking into personal grudge, politics and other angles in the case.

Aganan was identified with the Bravos, a political family that has strong followers in the first district of Masbate.

“We are not discounting the political angle since the victim was a close associate of incumbent Masbate Rep. Maria Vida Espinosa Bravo and husband Narciso “Bong” Bravo Jr.,” he said.

Narciso, after ending his three terms as congressman, was replaced by his wife Maria Vida, while he ran but lost in the gubernatorial race in the 2016 elections.

Sources said Aganan served as political adviser and campaign manager of Narciso.