A municipal mayor of Balete, Batangas was gunned down by unidentified gunmen while watching a basketball game in Barangay Poblacion on Saturday morning.
Leovino Hidalgo was declared dead on arrival at the Metro Lipa Medical Center in Lipa City, Batangas acting Police Director Senior Superintendent Randy Quines Peralta said. He was shot once in the head, said Balete Municipal Police Station chief Police Senior Inspector Gerry Malipol.
Peralta said the mayor was gracing the basketball league game sponsored by the municipal government in Poblacion when the assassins fired at him around 10:30 a.m.
The assailants fled on board a white van after the shooting, according to a police report from Batangas public information officer-in-charge Inspector Hazel P. Luma-ang.
Initially recovered from the crime scene was a deformed slug of suspected caliber M-16 rifle.
Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) have processed the crime scene and now conducting follow-up investigations. “OPLAN KALASAG” is now activated province-wide to track down and capture the suspects.
Peralta also said that the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) will be formed by the Provincial Headquarters to assist in the investigation of the said killing.
He also urged witnesses to provide any pertinent information and lead on the case by contacting the mobile number (0926) 207-2776 or the Balete Municipal Police Station for appropriate action. (Jojo C. Magsombol/PNA)
photo credit: LH Facebook page
