SAN Isidro, Nueva Ecija—The Association of Barangay Captains president of Cabiao town and his companion were killed Sunday after unidentified armed men riding a black pick-up truck and a motorcycle ambushed them before midnight here, police said.
Provincial police director Senior Supt. Antonio C. Yarra identified those killed as Cabiao ABC president Joel Vinuya, 48, of Brgy. Bagong Silang, Cabiao, and Ronaldo Caingat, 37, alias “Amang,” of Brgy. San Fernando Sur, also of Cabiao.
Vinuya and Caingat had just come from a cockfighting derby at the Jaen Cockpit Arena in Brgy. Sapang, Jaen, and were on their way home when the attack occurred at 11:30 p.m., police said.
The assailants on the pick-up truck, backed by two Yamaha Mio motorcycle-riding men, peppered them with bullets when the victims, riding a black Suzuki Smash motorcycle, reached the Gapan-Olongapo Road in Purok 7, Brgy. Aluae.
Vinuya died on the spot, while Caingat was rushed to the Cabiao General Hospital in Brgy. San Fernando Sur, where he later died while being treated for gunshot wounds.
Recovered at the crime scene were 16 empty cartridge cases and a deformed slug from a caliber .45 pistol, Yarra said.
The victims’ bodies were brought to the Labrador Funeral in Brgy. San Gregorio, and to the Estrella Funeral in Brgy. San Fernando Sur, both in Cabiao, for autopsy and proper disposition. Police are still investigating the motive behind the killings.