Thursday, April 17, 2008 Probers believe Tuesday’s attack on Barili bry. captain’s wife intended for official
THE wife of Mayana, Barili, Cebu’s barangay captain was shot in the abdomen in an attack believed to be intended for her husband.
PO2 William Beltran of Barili Police Station identified the victim as Myrna, 35, and her husband, Jonas Binondo.
The gunman, former Mayana barangay captain Elpidio Presbitero, 58, was arrested in his house by police in a follow-up operation.
Presbitero, however, denied any involvement in the crime, which took place around 10 p.m. Tuesday.
He will be subjected to a paraffin test to determine if he recently fired a gun, as investigators consider political grudge as possible motive.
Jonas defeated Presbitero in October last year’s barangay elections.
Initial investigation by the police showed that Jonas, with his tanods, was drinking in front of the barangay hall when a man arrived and pointed a .45 pistol at him.
Myrna saw what happened and rushed towards her husband to shield him when three shots rang out.
One bullet hit Myrna, who was brought to the Barili District Hospital before she was transferred to the South General Hospital in Naga City.
Police recovered two empty .45 pistol bullet shells at the crime scene.
Beltran said that despite Presbitero’s denial, they are preparing a criminal complaint against him after several witnesses pointed to as the gunman. (JST with DRT of Sun.Star Superbalita)
