CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — A lawyer who lost in the last polls and his security aide were gunned down in broad daylight by motorcycle-riding gunmen in front of San Vicente Parish Church in Sta. Rita town Tuesday, Police report said.
Police identified the victims as Atty. Anselmo Montemayor Carlos, of Barangay Cabangcalan, Floridablanca and his driver Marcial Perez Mendoza, of Sta. Maria, Bulacan. Both suffered multiple gunshot wounds in different parts of their bodies and died on the spot.
The victims, police said were on board black Toyota Camry (ZMD-630) while cruising along provincial road when waylaid by three unidentified men armed with handguns at Bgy San Vicente in that town past 9 a.m.
According to witnesses, one of the suspects was wearing a red shirt and sporting gray ball cap while the two others were wearing black and blue shirts. The gun-wielding suspects, police said fled on board a Honda Wave motorcycle without license plates.
Scene of the crime investigators found spent pieces of spent shells for caliber .45 pistol at the scene of incident.
Police Colonel Jean Fajardo, Director of the Pampanga Provincial Police Office (PPO), ordered an investigation into the incident.
“No stone must be left unturned,” Fajardo told reporters.
Carlos serves as a lawyer for informal settlers who allegedly occupy private and government properties in Pampanga, it was gathered.
IBP-Pampanga condemns slaying
In a statement, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Pampanga Chapter condemned the violent death of Carlos.
IBP-Pampanga said: “We condemn in the strongest terms possible the violent and cowardly act of the killing of our chapter member, Atty. Anselmo “Sato” Carlos.
Moments after attending a hearing this morning in the Hall of Justice of Guagua, Pampanga, three armed assailants shot at Atty. Carlos and his driver Marcial Mendoza while the latter were inside a car, resulting in their instant deaths.
“We are shocked and saddened that one of our members has been added to the growing number of lawyers falling victim to senseless killings. Once again, rule of law has been attacked. We call on law enforcement authorities to make a swift action to bring to justice the perpetrators of this dastardly act and to exert all efforts in trying to put a stop to the killing of lawyers.”