Ambush on vice mayor’s bodyguards that killed 1 baffles police

TUGUEGARAO CITY—Two bodyguards of Rizal Vice Mayor Joel Ruma and three children were ambushed on Thursday (August 8), killing the wife of one of the security aides in a case that is baffling police.

Capt. Gil Pagulayan, police chief of Piat town, Cagayan province, said heavily armed men repeatedly shot the pickup being driven by Rex Anthony Mallorca, a bodyguard of the vice mayor, as it traversed a road at the village of Dugayong.

Also on board the pickup were Mallorca’s wife, Eunice, and children Jaybie, 8, Jillian, 7, and Elyza 3. Also in the pickup was Simeon Baloran, another security aide of Ruma’s.

Eunice suffered gunshot wounds and was declared dead at the Tuao District Hospital. Mallorca, his son Jaybie and Baloran were wounded.

Police said the gunmen were armed with M-16 Armalite rifles and .38 caliber handguns. VILLAMOR VISAYA JR/tsb