Quezon town councilor gunned down inside home

LUCENA CITY – A municipal councilor in Sariaya town in Quezon province was shot and killed by gunmen who barged into his house Thursday morning, police said.

Councilor Aristeo Ilao, 55, was inside his house in Barangay (village) Sampaloc 2 around 9:30 a.m. when the two suspects came and repeatedly shot him in his head using a still unknown gun caliber, Supt. Rafael Torres, Sariaya police chief, said in a spot report. The victim died instantly.

The suspects fled aboard a motorcycle and sped off towards the Maharlika Highway. Police are conducting an investigation.

Sariaya Vice Mayor Alex Tolentino, said the killing of Ilao shocked the local government.

“Councilor Ilao is the epitome of a public servant. Hardworking and principled,” Tolentino said in a phone interview.

Tolentino said he could not remember any controversy surrounding Ilao’s performance as a public official. The victim was serving his first term as municipal councilor.

The vice mayor called on authorities to conduct an intensive investigation to unmask the killers.

“The whole town is crying for justice,” Tolentino said.