Authorities reported that two barangay chairmen have been shot in separate shooting incidents over the weekend and both barangay officials died.
Police said 68-year-old barangay official Filemon Villanueva was shot outside of his own residence by an unidentified gunman in Barangay Tonsuya, Malabon City and has died on Saturday afternoon.
Authorities also reported that Romeo Cañas, village chief of Barangay Tigbawan, was gunned down by still unidentified assailants in Barangay Elizabeth, Leyte town, Leyte on Saturday afternoon.
In a GMA News report, Police Colonel Albert Barot, Malabon chief of police, confirmed the death of Villanueva at 3:20 p.m. on Saturday. Barot earlier reported that the shooting incident happened past 9 a.m. on Saturday.
Police said the victim was sitting outside his house on C. Perez Street when the back rider in a motorcycle riding in tandem fired at him. Villanueva sustained gunshot wounds in the abdomen and leg and was brought to a hospital after the incident but he passed away hours later.
The Malabon City police said an investigation regarding the matter is still ongoing. Authorities are also coordinating with two people who had witnessed the shooting incident.
Police said Cañas was on board his motorcycle when the gunman approached and shot him. The perpetrator then boarded a motorcycle driven by another person and fled.
The victim was first brought to the Rural Health Unit of Leyte but was referred to the Ormoc Sugar Plantation Association Hospital in Ormoc City, authorities said, but Cañas did not make it alive.
Police said they are conducting an investigation and are seeking to identify the perpetrators and the motive behind the killing.