Nueva Ecija town mayor shot dead by motorcycle-riding suspects — police

The mayor of General Tinio town in Nueva Ecija was shot dead on Tuesday afternoon, Police Regional Office 3 director Chief Superintendent Amador Corpus said.

Mayor Ferdinand Bote, who was on board his vehicle, was repeatedly shot with a short firearm by still-unidentified motorcycle-riding suspects around 4:30 p.m. outside the office of National Irrigation Administration in Cabanatuan City.

The victim was rushed to M.V. Gallego Cabanatuan General Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde has also confirmed the incident.

Bote was the second mayor to have been killed within the last 48 hours following the killing of Tanauan City Mayor Antonio Halili, who was shot during the flag raising ceremony at the municipal hall grounds on Monday morning.

Bote was a member of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), party president Senator Aquilino Pimentel III confirmed to reporters.

“Yes, he was a partymate. Masakit na balita ‘yan. Nakakalungkot,” he said. — with a report by Amita Legaspi/RSJ/BM, GMA News