Pastor shot dead in Laoag

LAOAG CITY, Philippines-–A preacher of the Church of Christ was shot and killed by a lone gunman in front of his house in Barangay (village) 9 here on Thursday morning.

Police said Macario Campañano, 40, was talking with Derick Calipjo and his wife Tonette in front of his house at 8:10 a.m. when a man walked behind them and shot the pastor, hitting him in the neck.

Senior Superintendent Gerardo Ratuita, Ilocos Norte police director, said Campañano, a native of Burgos town, was taken to the Gov. Roque Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital where he died.

Witnesses said the gunman fled on foot.

Police recovered a shell from a .45-cal. pistol from the crime scene.

Ratuita said police were checking whether the shooting was related to a feud in politics or business because the victim was also provincial coordinator of the partylist group 1st Kabagis (Kabalikat ng Bayan Ginhawang Sangkatauhan) and a distributor of a beverage.

The area where Campañano was attacked is a few meters from the provincial capitol, within Laoag’s business district, and surrounded by jeepney and bus terminals.

Ratuita said the Church of Christ is not known to be connected with the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. An online search showed that the Church of Christ congregation holds a set of Protestant beliefs but its members claim not to be Protestants.

The UCCP, on the other hand, is a union of five Protestant denominations, namely the traditions of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ USA), the Presbyterians, the Evangelical United Brethren, the Philippine Methodists, and the Congregational Church.

Witnesses said the assailants fled on foot.

Campañano was taken to a local hospital where he died.

The area where Campañano was attacked is within the city’s business district and is surrounded by jeepney and bus terminals.

The police are checking whether the shooting was related to a feud in politics because Campañano was also the provincial chair of the partylist group Kabagis.