LAOAG CITY – A reelectionist councilor of Sarrat, Ilocos Norte was gunned down by unidentified gunmen on Monday morning, December 6.
Police investigators identified the victim as Apolonio Garcia Medrano, 69, of Barangay 1 San Joaquin in Sarrat.
Initial reports said Medrano was standing in front of his parked vehicle in front of the Sarrat municipal hall when he was shot by motorcycle-riding gunmen.
Citing witnesses, police said the assailants fled toward the eastern direction after the incident.
The victim was declared dead on arrival at a nearby hospital. A checkpoint operation was immediately launched to intercept the gunmen.
Medrano, a former police intelligence officer, was tagged in the killing of DZJC broadcaster Roger Mariano but the case against him was dismissed in 2010 due to lack of evidence.
In a Facebook post, the municipal government paid tribute to Medrano for his unselfish public service for the people of Sarrat.
"You will always be remembered as the Sanggunian "KP" who fought for the cause of the farmers and underprivileged," it said.