The municipal administrator of San Isidro, Leyte was killed while three civilians were wounded when unidentified gunmen strafed the house of the town mayor yesterday morning.
A police report from the Leyte Provincial Police Office identified the victim as Levi Mabini, 44, and a resident of Barangay Daja Diot.
Aside from being a municipal administrator, Mabini also reportedly works as the chief of the San Isidro Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
Injured were Rowena and Jhia Itang, both employees of a hardware store, and a certain “Rolly,” a bystander.
Initial investigation disclosed that Mabini had just arrived at the house of Mayor Susan Ang in Barangay Capinahan around 7:30 a.m. when the suspects appeared onboard a gray Ford Ranger.
As Mabini walked past a gas station reportedly owned by Ang, the gunmen suddenly opened fire.
The victim was hit and sustained multiple bullet wounds in the back and foot, killing him instantly, police said.
The gunmen escaped while residents panicked and scampered away, police noted.
Police have coordinated with barangay officials to possibly obtain a copy of closed-circuit television footage in the area to identify and trace the suspects.
A follow-up investigation was also conducted to determine the motive behind the incident. (Martin A. Sadongdong)