Calbayog City mayor, three others killed in shootout

Calbayog Mayor Ronaldo Aquino and three companions were killed in an armed encounter in the city on Monday, a Samar lawmaker has said.

In a Facebook post Samar Representative Edgar Mary Sarmiento said Aquino and his companions were in a van when their vehicle was riddled with bullets on Laboyao Bridge in Barangay Lonoy.

According to a report on Saksi, Aquino and his companions thought that they were being followed by the passengers of another vehicle. They shot at the vehicle, whose passengers turned out to be police officers, who retaliated.

Aquino, his driver, and his security officer were killed in the encounter. A police officer was also killed while another was injured.

A report on Super Radyo dzBB said PNP chief Police General Debold Sinas has ordered the regional police office in Eastern Visayas to investigate. - NB/BAP, GMA News