Malolos—A board member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Bulacan and his driver were killed in a broad-daylight ambush in Barangay Ligas in the provincial capital at around 5 p.m. on Thursday.
Bokal Ramil Capistrano, who heads the Liga ng mga Barangay ng Bulacan, and his driver, Shedrick Suarez, were aboard a silver SUV-Fortuner on their way home after attending an SP session.
CCTV footage from the barangay showed another van and two motorcycles tailing the SUV of Capistrano when the unidentified gunmen opened fire, killing them on the spot.
Investigators have yet to identify the perpetrators as of press time.
Initially, politics has been discounted as a motive behind the attack since the victim is not a candidate for any position. However, Capistrano is the barangay captain of Caingin, San Rafael, Bulacan.
Bulacan local government officials have since expressed condolences to the bereaved families of Capistrano and Suarez.
Malolos Mayor Christian Natividad, Bulacan 5th District Rep. Ambrosio Cruz, 3rd District Rep. Lorna Silverio, 1st District Rep. Danny Domingo ), San Jose del Monte Mayor Arthur Robes, and former San Ildefonso mayors Sazo Galvez and Carla Galvez-Tan, who are close friends of the victim, have since offered sympathies on their respective social media accounts.
They urged police authorities to expedite the investigation and swiftly bring those responsible to justice. Meanwhile, Police Regional Director Brig. General Redrico Maranan immediately formed the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) “Capistrano” to lead the investigation.
“I believe his ambush was politically motivated,” San Rafael Mayor Cholo Violago, who claimed that Capistrano is his campaign manager in the coming elections, told Manila Standard.
Bulacan Police Director Col. Satur Ediong called on any witnesses to report to the nearest police station or reach them through the hotlines 09178563153 or 09985985372, as well as the Malolos City police at 044-796-2483 or 09985985283.
