MANILA, Philippines - Unidentified men armed with M16 rifles ambushed and shot dead a councilor in Binalonan town in Pangasinan province early Sunday.
Radio dzRH reported early Monday that the victim, councilor Igmedio Lariosa, died instantly after sustaining several gunshot wounds in different parts of the body.
Police recovered from the crime scene at least 11 shells from an M16 Armalite rifle.
Investigators cited initial information from witnesses indicating Lariosa had been receiving threats to his life via text messages.
The incident occurred at 7:30 a.m. Sunday at Camangaan village in Binalonan town, a third-class municipality with a population of 48,967 people in 10,184 households.
Initial investigation showed Lariosa was riding a motorcycle and was on his way home from his farm when the suspects ambushed him.
A bag recovered near the area containing bottles of energy drink and cigarette butts indicated the suspects had waited a long time for the victim to pass by the area.
Lariosa's cal-.45 pistol was missing, indicating the suspects took it.
Binalonan town Mayor Ramon Guico ordered local police to solve the case immediately. Local police formed a task force to look into the incident.
The incident occurred less than two weeks after another Pangasinan town councilor, Albert Sibayan of San Quintin, was shot dead last July 1.
Unidentified motorcycle-riding men shot dead Sibayan, who chairs the town council peace and order committee. - GMANews.TV