Cebu village chief killed in ambush

A (village) chairman and anti- drug advocate of Liloan, Cebu was killed in an ambush on Thursday night. His wife was critically wounded.

Police said Barangay Chairman Felicisimo Rupinta of Barangay Ermita sustained two gunshot wounds in the head from a caliber .45 pistol. He was declared dead at Mendero Medical Center in Consolacion town,

Rupinta was on board a pick-up driven by his wife Jocelyn on their way home to Liloan from the village hall of Barangay Ermita at about 8:12 p.m. when the suspects riding a motorcycle with another one as back-up, blocked their way along Barangay Tayud and fired shots at them.

Jocelyn was hit by bullets that caused her to lose control of the steering wheel. She was being treated at the hospital for bullet wounds in the back.

Police Supt. Melbert Esguera, Liloan chief of police, said pursuit operation against the gunmen was being conducting while investigators are talking to witnesses to the incident, including possible CCTV footage at the crime scene.

Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Edguardo Labella on Friday announced that a P300,000 reward is being offered to informant who can identify the assailants reportedly riding two motorcycles.

Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, a political ally of Rupinta, said the slain official was an active anti- illegal drugs advocate in his barangay. He led the campaign by posting a sticker on every house that has been declared as drugfree by authorities.