- Former Cateel mayor killed in brazen attack
THE FORMER Mayor of Cateel, Davao Oriental was shot dead by an unidentified perpetrator near Jollibee, Km. 5, Buhangin, around 10:10 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 23.
His driver was also brought to the hospital after sustaining a gunshot wound.
Police identified the casualty as Giselo Velasco Castillones, a resident of San Rafael, Cateel, while the driver was Junie Castro.
The other companion was Alma Manliguez Lozentes, 57, a businesswoman and the common-law-wife of the victim.
According to the DCPO’s report, the three were on about to leave on a gray Mitsubishi Expander with plate # Y17884 after eating breakfast at Jollibee Buhangin. However, a man approached their vehicle and shot Castillones multiple times, who was then sitting in the front passenger seat.
The bullets recovered from the scene showed that the killer used a .45 caliber pistol.
The suspect then sped off on a motorcycle after the crime.
The former mayor was declared dead by the responding Central 911 ambulance while the driver was brought to Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) hospital for treatment.
TIMES is still waiting for information on whether or not Lozentes was also wounded in the incident.
In an interview with the media on Wednesday, former governor and present Davao Oriental Rep. Nelson Dayanghirang said they have yet to ascertain the motive. But they are willing to help the police with whatever information would help solve the case.
“Let the PNP do their investigation. Ang ako mutabang lang ta to solve the case (I will only help to solve the case),” the Congressman said.
Dayanghirang added the victim has no position but his son is the newly elected chairman of a barangay in Cateel.
Moreover, Captain Hazel Tuazon, spokesperson of the Davao City Police Office, said during the AFP-PNP press briefing held at The Royal Mandaya Hotel that Oplan Dragnet was activated to speed up the resolution of the incident.
