Ex-mayor shot, wounded in Bayambang

BAYAMBANG, Pangasinan — A former mayor of this municipality was shot and critically wounded while having coffee with some acquaintances in front of his house in Barangay Poblacion Sur, here, early yesterday morning.

Initial reports reaching Superintendent Ferdinand de Asis, Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPO) spokesman, said former mayor Leocadio de Vera, 62, was shot by a lone gunman with a .45-caliber pistol at 4:55 a.m.

Supt. Greg Galsim, local chief of police, said De Vera was hit in the left side of his body and managed to pull out his firearm and return fire.

“We just don’t know if he (the exmayor) was able to hit his assailant,” Galsim said.

A witness interviewed by the Manila Bulletin said: “Naglakad lang ang suspect matapos barilin si Leo (The suspect walked away after shooting Leo).”

The same witness, a resident here who requested anonymity, said De Vera had been receiving death threats lately.

The victim was initially rushed to the Region 1 Medical Center (R1MC) in Dagupan City, this province, but later transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) of an undisclosed private hospital.