DAANBANTAYAN, Cebu — A boat carrying Mayor Vicente Loot of Daanbantayan and his family had just docked at the new roll-on, roll-off port in the village of Maya on Sunday, when it was met with bursts of gunfire.
Two drivers and a nanny, who were beside the mayor, were wounded, as well as a porter.
Loot, his wife, Ma. Luisa, and his daughter dropped to the ground, while his son, Luis, covered his wife and two children aged 8 and 6 months old.
His stepson, Board Member Sun Shimura, embraced his wife and three young children aged 6, 3 and 2 to protect them.
Bonnets, masked men
Investigators said the assailants, all wearing bonnets and covering their faces with handkerchiefs, had been waiting for the mayor’s group at the port.
Three were at the docking area, while three waited at a white Toyota Hi-Ace van parked several meters away, pointing their guns at people who ducked for cover.
The mayor said he believed that the attack was related to his being tagged by President Rodrigo Duterte as a drug protector.
But his wife, Ma. Luisa, former mayor of Daanbantayan, said she believed it was politically motivated.
Loot and his family had just arrived from Malapascua Island where they attended a fiesta.
The boat chartered by the family arrived at the port around 7:30 a.m. and was about to be moored when gunmen opened fire.
Fear of crossfire
At least three gunmen opened fire at the boat carrying the mayor and his family and ran back to their van after the shooting.
Wounded were drivers Arnel Rosario and Ruben Castañeda, nanny Jerlyn Rossel and porter Bernabe Ypsor.
Loot, a retired police general, was unable to fight back, saying he feared his family would get hit in the crossfire.
He asked his bodyguards to run after the gunmen but failed to catch up with the assailants.
Loot said he had received intelligence reports warning him that he was in danger after the President linked him to drugs.
“There was no direct threat but I was advised to be careful,” he said.