TACLOBAN CITY– An incumbent barangay chairman was shot dead while his wife sustained a gunshot wound after unidentified gunmen opened fire on the couple in broad daylight on Wednesday, July 23 in Calbayog City.
The victims were aboard a tricycle locally known as a “timbol” and were on their way home around 1:10 p.m. when the attack occurred along the boundary road between Barangays Guinbaoyan Norte and Guinbaoyan Sur.
Police identified the deceased as Anastacio Catalan 59, chairman of Brgy. Tapa-e. His wife, Remegia, 53, suffered a gunshot wound to her left thigh and was rushed to Calbayog District Hospital for treatment.
According to Calbayog City Police Chief Lt.Col. Dinvir Revita, the police were alerted to the incident via a phone call from a concerned citizen at around 1:15 p.m. Responding officers arrived to find Catalan slumped over his motorcycle in a supine position, already lifeless. His wife had already been taken to the hospital.
Initial investigations revealed that two unidentified men on a motorcycle approached the victims from behind and fired without warning—fatally striking Catalan in the head and wounding his wife.
The suspects fled in the opposite direction after the shooting. Scene investigators recovered a fired cartridge case (FCC) from a caliber .45 pistol at the crime scene.
However, after a manhunt operations conducted by the police, the suspect, who was not named, after arrested.
Authorities are currently conducting a thorough investigation to determine the motive.
(ROBERT DEJON)
