CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga -- A clerk of court was shot dead by motorcycle riding criminals (MRCs) after she was held-up in Barangay San Jose, Sta. Ana, Pampaga recently.

Senior Superintendent Marlon Madrid, officer-in-charge of the Pampanga Police Provincial Office (PPPO), identified the fatality as Dolores Argallon, 54, a resident of Barangay San Jose, Sta. Ana town and clerk of court of Municipal Trial Court of Sta. Ana.

Madrid said the victim was fetched by his son-in-law, identified as Dexter Maculam, on his motorized tricycle at the Sta. Ana Hall.

While on their way home and upon reaching Barangay San Jose, two unidentified armed men on board a green Enduro motorcycle without plate number grabbed the victim's bag. However, Argallon refused to give her bag prompting the suspect to shoot her inside the sidecar of the tricycle, Madrid said.

For fear of his life, Maculam alighted from the tricycle and ran for safety, he said.

Police said the gunman was wearing a blue sweatshirt while his cohort was wearing a black jacket and a bull cap.

The victim was taken to the San Luis District Hospital for medical treatment but was declared dead on arrival by attending doctor, police said.

Recovered from the scene of the crime were five spent shells and three fired bullets from a caliber .45 pistol. (Ric Sapnu)