MANILA — Four unidentified gunmen shot dead Mayor Mariano Blanco III of Ronda town, Cebu province inside his office at the municipal hall early Wednesday.
Reports from Ronda Police Station indicated the incident took place at about 1: 30 a.m.
Preliminary reports indicated that the suspects, who were on board a white van, forced their way into the municipal building and, at gunpoint, forced the two duty watchmen to lay on their bellies.
A few minutes later, shots were heard from Blanco’s office, and the gunmen fled afterwards.
The mayor’s body was later found by the two watchmen, prompting them to report the incident to the police.
Blanco was earlier tagged as one of two Cebu-based politicians involved in the illegal drugs trade. (Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)
