A female barangay councilor was gunned down in Carmen by four assailants while her husband was injured in the same gun attack on Sunday, police said.
Authorities identified the fatality as Rufa Sugala, a 37-year-old councilor of Barangay El Progreso in Carmen, and her injured husband as Arturo Sugala, a 45-year-old farmer.
Based on initial police investigation, the Sugalas, on board a motorcycle, were on their way to a purok meeting in the said barangay when four bonnet-clad gunmen suddenly blocked their path.
The suspects then immediately shot the couple multiple times using firearms of still unidentified caliber at around 1:20 p.m., police said.
Rufa immediately succumbed to her gunshot wounds while Arturo, although hit multiple times in various parts of his body, was able to escape and ask for assistance from neighbors.
Arturo was then rushed to the Cong. Simeon Toribio Memorial Hospital for medical treatment while the suspects immediately fled to an unknown direction.
Meanwhile, police officers of the Carmen Police Station led by SPO1 Ronilo Cambalon and SPO1 Ruben Mesiona responded to a call from concerned citizen who notified them of the fatal gun attack.
In their initial probe, police were able to question Arturo who positively identified one of the suspects as one Jose Neosinia who reportedly removed his bonnet some time during the incident.
Police have yet to identify the rest of the suspects and the motive behind the attack.
However, a civilian source close to the victims who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the murder may have been carried out as retaliatory attack against the barangay councilor who has been naming drug personalities in the area.
Investigation on the case is still ongoing while a hot pursuit has been launched by police against the suspects.