Mayor’s ally shot dead in NE

CABANATUAN CITY – A 42-year-old barangay councilor who has openly supported the reelection bid of a municipal mayor in Nueva Ecija was gunned down in broad daylight by a lone gunman inside a junkyard in Llanera town Sunday, the Philippine National Police reported yesterday.

          Senior Superintendent Crizaldo Nieves, PNP provincial director, identified the slain official as Nick Apan, barangay councilor of Ricarte, Llanera.  Apan died from a lone gunshot wound in the head. 

          Apan is a supporter and ally of reelected Llanera Mayor Lorna Mae Vero of the Liberal Party.

          Vero described Apan as reserved and kind-hearted.

          Apan’s killing was pulled off at around 6 am Sunday in Ricarte.

          Nieves said Apan was inside the compound which he owns when the gunman, accompanied by two others aboard three separate motorcycles, parked in front of the junk yard.

          The gunman posed as a customer while his companions served as look-outs. The suspect then drew his .45 caliber pistol and shot Apan from point-blank range  then fled.

          Apan was rushed to a hospital in this city but he was pronounced dead on arrival.

          Police have yet to establish the motive for the attack.

          Vero declined to speculate on the possibility that politics could be the motive, saying police are looking into several angles, including possible business rivalry and love triangle.

          “We have to wait for the results of the police investigation before we can make any conclusion,” she said.- Manny Galvez