Barangay captain gunned down in Taal, Batangas

A barangay captain was shot to death in front of a barangay hall in Taal, Batangas on Tuesday morning, according to the Police Regional Office 4A (PRO 4A).

Based on a police report, the barangay official was sitting in a resting area when two perpetrators arrived and shot him using a caliber 45 pistol at 7:20 a.m.

The perpetrators aboard a motorcycle fled towards Sta.Teresita, Batangas.

The victim was brought to Lemery Doctors Hospital but he was declared dead on arrival, according to the police.

The slain barangay captain was about to run for a second term in the upcoming barangay elections, PRO 4A public information office chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Chitadel Gaoiran said.

On Monday, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr. said they monitored seven incidents of violence suspected to be related to the upcoming polls. 

Earlier, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) reported that three of four recent incidents of violence were not related to the BSKE 2023:

• an incident in Cainta, Rizal last week in which three barangay tanods responding to battery allegations and the suspect were shot dead;
• an August 29 incident in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao involving the police and suspected Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters; and
• an August 29 incident in Midsayap, North Cotabato in which Barangay Malingaw Punong Barangay aspirant Haron Dimanes was gunned down; considered part of a rido or feud between families in Mindanao.

The Comelec said the killing of Barangay San Jose reelectionist chairperson Alex Repato in Libon, Albay is still undergoing validation by the PNP.

A total of 241 gun ban violators have been arrested and 130 assorted small arms and light weapons confiscated as of Sunday, according to PNP chief Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr. — Joviland Rita/RSJ, GMA Integrated News