Reelectionist brgy chief shot dead in Roxas City

ILOILO CIqY — A barangay captain seeking another term in office was shot dead Friday evening at Roñas City, Capiz.

Elvis Asis, 51, of Barangay Lawaan in Roxas City was gunned by ridingin-tandem gunmen while on board a motorcycle U:20 p.m. His companion and nephew, 30-year-old Joselito Casila who was driving the motorcycle, was also injured.

Asis sustained gunshot wounds on the back of his head, back of his body, and right arm. He died two hours later while undergoing treatment at Capiz Doctors' Hospital. On the other hand, Casila sustained a gunshot wound on the right arm.

Reports said the two victims came from sitio Patag in Barangay Lawaan where they held a bingo game. But they had to return to get bingo balls. They were on their way back to the bingo when the two suspects tailed and shot them. Police recovered four fired cartridges of .45-caliber pistol from the crime scene.

While Asis was running with another candidate, investigators are looking at politics as unlikely motive of the incident. "The possibility is slim that it's due to politics," said Senior Superintendent Samuel Nacion of the Capiz Police, but he did not elaborate.

As this developed, the Roñas City Police Station headed by Superintendent Dante qayco formed a special investigation team to probe Asis' death.

Chief Inspector Joem Malong, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office-6, said if the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division (RIDMD) will declare Asis' death as election-related violent incident (ERVI), it will be the first ERVI recorded in Western Visayas for this election period.