BARANGAY CHAIRMAN, 2 COUNCILORS SHOT DEAD DURING FLAG-RAISING CEREMONY IN CAVITE

A VILLAGE chief and two barangay councilors on Monday were killed while one was seriously injured in a gun attack during a flag-raising ceremony in front of a barangay hall in Dasmariñas City, Cavite.

The suspect, a former barangay tanod, also killed himself after the shooting.

Meanwhile, a Sangguniang Kabataan secretary was seriously injured when hit by a stray bullet.

Slain were barangay chairman Raul Atarde Ballos, 56; and “kagawads” Jose Lagones, 65; and Marvin Canete, 54, all of Bgy. Salitran 3, Dasmariñas City, Cavite, according to Dasmariñas City acting police chief Lt. Col. Regino Oñate.

Sangguniang Kabataan secretary Christine Joseph Bonus is in critical condition at the hospital.

Initial probe showed the gun attack occurred at 8 a.m.  Monday during  a flag-raising ceremony in front of the barangay hall in Bgy. Salitran 3 in Dasmariñas City.

The victims were attending the flag-raising rites when suspect, alias “Ariel,” a 50-year-old former barangay tanod, of Bgy. Salitran 3, Dasmariñas City, approached them from behind.

The suspect, who was armed with a gun, suddenly shot the barangay chairman and the two “kagawads” at close range.

After seeing the victims fell to the ground and bloodied, the suspect turned the gun to himself then pulled the trigger.

The village chair and his two “kagawads” were rushed to the hospital, where they were declared dead on arrival.

The SK secretary is under observation.

The suspect was brought to St. Paul Medical Center but was also declared dead on arrival.

Police Regional Office 4A (Calabarzon) regional director Brig. Gen. Paul Kenneth T. Lucas condemned the gruesome crime as he immediately ordered an in-depth investigation into the gun attack.

“We strongly condemn the heinous shooting incident. We immediately instructed our investigators to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the real motive behind this crime, and to provide justice to the deceased and injured victims,” Lucas said.

The incident was the second in a span of two days following the killing on Saturday of a known supporter of Naic, Cavite Mayor-elect Rommel Magbitang.

Victim  Shackie Denajiba, one of the active leaders of Magbitang during the recent campaign period for the local polls, was gunned down in front of his home in Naic.

Denajiba’s wife told police that prior to the killing, her husband had been receiving death threats in connection with the recent elections.