Brgy chairman survives ambush

KIDAPAWAN CITY – A barangay chairman of Tulunan, North Cotabato survived a daytime gun attack while cycling inside a covered court, Tuesday, reports from the local police said.

Tulunan PNP identified the victim as Joemar Cerebo Almirante, chairman of Barangay Sibsib, Tulunan, who, according to intelligence reports, was included in President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s list of those involved in drug trafficking.

A stray bullet hit a retired school teacher who, at the time of the attack, was cooking breakfast for the family. She was rushed immediately to the nearest hospital, reports said.

Authorities recovered from the scene three spent bullets from a caliber .45 pistol.

According to police reports, while Almirante was exercising on his bicycle, when a heavily tinted sports utility vehicle stopped, and a gunman emerged to shot at him thrice.

Fortunately, none of the shots hit Almirante.

Authorities have yet to identify the gunman and the motive behind the attack.

Almirante’s residence was raided months before the barangay elections were held in 2018 by elements of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit. The anti-drug operatives, however, failed to recover anything illegal, reports said.

Almirante, during media interview, denied having links with drug syndicates and that he was never involved in any illegal activity.