Negros councilor shot dead in Bacolod

BACOLOD City, Philippines—A municipal councilor was shot dead by a lone gunman as he was leaving a hotel here at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, police said.

Killed was Ilog town councilor Antonio Gequillana Jr., who was shot three times at close range, said Senior Superintendent Ricardo de la Paz, Bacolod police director.

Gequillana was shot at the back by a lone gunman using a .45-cal. pistol while the councilor was leaving the East View Hotel, located on Circumferential Road in Bacolod City, where he had coffee, De la Paz said. He added that the bullets exited through Gequillana’s chest.

Gequillana was declared dead on arrival at the Bacolod Doctors Hospital.

Five empty shells were recovered from the scene of the crime, De la Paz said.

The gunman was wearing a camouflage jacket and shorts and was described by the police to be of medium build and 5 feet 6 inches tall.

He escaped on a motorcycle.

De la Paz said he has has created Task Force Gequillana to investigate the killing and to capture the assailant.