JAEN, Nueva Ecija — A village chief who was known to be a supporter of incumbent mayor Sylvia Austria was shot dead by still unidentified assailants in Barangay Lambakin this town at around 6:00 a.m. Friday, November 5.
Nueva Ecija Police director Col. Rhoderick Campo, identified the victim as Zoilo "Anlo" De Belen, 56 and a village chairman of Barangay Lambakin.
De Belen died on the spot due to fatal shot from a .45 caliber pistol where three spent shells of the same caliber were recovered from the crime scene.
The unknown suspects onboard a black Toyota Vios with still undetermined license plate number sped to an unknown direction after the assassination.
Initial report disclosed that the victim was doing a daily routine of watering his vegetable plants when he was shot by one of the occupants of the car.
A farmer, whose identity was withheld for security reason, was then fetching water from a distance when he heard three gunshots rung and later saw the victim lying on the ground, according to Nueva Ecija police office spokesman Lt. Frank Sindac.
"Sinisilip na po ang lahat ng anggulo sa pagpatay kay chairman De Belen ganun ang mga kuha ng CCTV footages para matukoy ang sasakyan na ginamit sa krimen," Sindac said. (Ariel Avendaño)