A VILLAGE chief was shot dead by unidentified gunmen around 3:30 p.m. Saturday, January 28, in Ayungon, Negros Oriental.
An initial police report said Junry Depillo, 37, village chief of Tibyawan, Ayungon town, succumbed to bullet wounds after the suspects fired at him.
Two bystanders were also hit by stray bullets, one at the lower abdomen and other on the right elbow, the initial police report said.
The names of the two other victims were not immediately available.
Acting Provincial Police Director Henry Biñas said the village chief was in the drugs watchlist of Ayungon, although it was not immediately known whether he had voluntarily surrendered under Oplan Tokhang (toktok-hangyo or knock and plead).
No other details on the shooting were available as the Ayungon Police Chief Romeo Cubo and Mayor Edsel Enardecido were reportedly in Tibyawan to investigate the shooting incident.
The motive of the shooting has also yet to be determined. (PNA)