CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga – A 57-year old local chief executive was gunned down by unidentified armed men believed to be members of gun-for-hire syndicate operating in Nueva Ecia province, while on board a sports utility vehicle at Barangay Imelda, Cabanatuan City early Tuesday afternoon.
Senior Inspector Jackilyn Gahid, chief of the Nueva Ecija Proviincial Police Office, Public Information Ofice (NEPPO-PIO), identified the victim as Ferdinand Padolina Bote, town mayor of General Tinio, Nueva Ecija and resident of Bgy. San Pedro, Poblacion.
Gahid said the victim was on board beige Toyota Fortuner (ABB-2020) when waylaid by several armed men near GSIS building past 4 pm. The victim expired on the way to MV Gallego Hospital in Cabanatuan City.
Bote, a contractor, had just driven out of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) office with his driver security aide and another occupant, when fired upon by the suspects. He suffered multiple gunshot wounds.
The security aide-driver and another occupant of the SUV were spared in the attack.
A first-termer mayor of General Tinio town, police sources said Bote had been noted for his local governance reform initiatives.
Police investigators found 18 spent shells for unknown calibre of firearm at the crime scene. But Gahid said the shells could be from handgun.
Chief Supt. Amador Corpus, director, Central Luzon PNP ordered the NEPPO to get into the bottom of the incident. He also directed the local police to create an investigating panel which will supervise the investigation.
Police investigators, however has yet to determine the motive in the ambush-slay of Mayor Bote.