MAYOR Ferdinand Bote of General Tinio town in Nueva Ecija was shot dead on Tuesday afternoon, July 3, in Cabanatuan City.

In a report, the Nueva Ecija police said Bote was gunned down arpund 4:30 p.m. by unidentified motorcycle-riding assailants while he was onboard his vehicle along Maharlika Highway, Barangay Imelda, Cabanatuan City.

Police said Bote sustained multiple gunshot wounds. The gunman reportedly used a short firearm.

He was rushed to the MV Gallego Hospital but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

The assailants fled towards the east. The Cabanatuan police immediately conducted a dragnet operation.

A closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) office showed that the mayor's vehicle had stopped just in front of the government agency's gate when two men in black approached the vehicle.

Bote was the second mayor assassinated in less than 48 hours.

Tanauan City, Batangas Mayor Antonio Halili was shot during the flag ceremony Monday morning, July 2, in front of the city hall.

He was declared dead about an hour later from a single gunshot wound to the chest. (SunStar Philippines)