Montevista municipal councilor shot dead

MONTEVISTA, Comval Province – A municipal councilor in Montevista died while his companion was injured after they were shot at Purok 8, Barangay San Jose here.

The incident happened at around 7 p.m. last Wednesday, December 27.

Police Senior Inspector Ariel C. Pascual, Montevista Municipal Police Station chief, identified the victims as Jobert delos Reyes Matugas, 31, married, member of the Sangguniang Bayan in Montevista, and resident of the same place and Jerwin O. Reconada, 23, resident of Purok 4, Barangay New Dalaguet, Montevista, Compostela Valley.

An initial investigation of the Montevista Municipal Police Station revealed that the two victims were at the house of the municipal councilor when two suspects arrived and without provocation shot the victims multiple times.

Matugas succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds in different parts of his body while the injured victim, Reconada, was also hit by bullets in different parts of his body.

After the incident, the suspects immediately fled to an unknown direction.

Police immediately held a hot pursuit operation. The authorities, including the military, have also conducted checkpoints where the suspects can possibly pass through but to no avail.

The victims were immediately brought to Compostela Valley Provincial Hospital in Barangay Bankerohan Sur, Montevista. The doctors tried to revive Councilor Matugas but he was declared dead by Dr. Nasser Jawadil.

The other victim, Reconada was rushed to the Davao Regional Medical Center in Apokon, Tagum City for further medication.

Seven empty shells from .45 caliber were found at the crime scene.

As of this writing, the police are still investigating to identify the suspects and their motives in killing the councilor. ROCKYBEN S. CATISAY