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Thursday, September 23, 2004
Mexico village chair killed
By Albert B. Lacanlale
MEXICO -- Another barangay official has fallen in this town as suspected members of the mainstream New People's Army (NPA) gunned down in broad daylight Johnson "Don-don" Briones, chairman of Barangay Cawayan, here.
Briones, a first-term barangay leader, was 36 when his life was put to an end by unidentified assassins at 9 a.m. Wednesday.
The incident is only one of several killings that targeted barangay officials in the province.
Police investigation disclosed that Briones was with about 20 other barrio-mates along a portion of the Abacan River here to build an earth dike for their farms' irrigation when three suspects, with faces covered with fatigue scarves, approached the group.
One of suspects, armed with a short firearm, opened fire at Briones from about three to four feet, fatally wounding the victim at the left portion of his head and shoulder.
One of Briones's companions, a certain Joy Valerio was hit by a stray bullet.
The suspects then fled on foot to an unknown direction, leaving the victim lying lifeless on the earth dike.
Immediately after the incident, Briones was brought home on a gareta (carabao-drawn cart) while Valerio was rushed to the Jose B. Lingad Memorial Hospital for treatment.
According to witnesses, whose names were withheld for security reasons, four other unidentified individuals were seen on standby a few meters from the crime scene, which was almost two kilometers away from the barangay proper.
In a separate interview, Mayor Teddy C. Tumang condemned "in the strongest sense" the killing of Briones.
He said as the municipal mayor, and having served as a barangay chairman, he understands the risks of performing duties as barangay head.
Tumang said the Municipal Government, together with the police, would exhaust all legal and possible means to serve justice for Briones's family.
(September 23, 2004 issue)
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