Village official slain in Masbate

LEGAZPI CITY -- A Masbate village councilman was killed on Sunday night by an unidentified gunman during a barangay fiesta in Esperanza town, a police report said on Monday.

Maj. Maria Luisa Calubaquib, Police Regional Office-5 (Bicol Region) spokesperson, identified the victim as Domingo Barotil, 47, councilor of Barangay Puting Bato.

According to the report, the victim was attending to visitors during an event at the village’s covered court at around 10:30 p.m. when the attacker, armed with a handgun, approached him and fired at close range.

Barotil was hit in various parts of his body resulting in his instantaneous death.

Calubaquib said investigators are still determining whether the killing was politically or insurgencyrelated. (PNA)