KABACAN, North Cotabato – Police said they have already identified several suspects believed to be behind the murder of the chairman of Barangay Pisan here on Monday.
Chief Insp. Ronnie Cordero, Kabacan town police chief, said Nestor Ranay, 37, chair of Barangay Pisan, Kabacan, died while undergoing treatment at a local hospital after he was ambushed at 9:10 a.m. in Purok Pagkakaisa, Barangay Pisan.
Cordero declined to reveal the identities of the suspects pending a police follow-up operation.
Ranay was driving his motorbike heading home from the village hall, where he led the regular Monday morning flag-raising ceremony, when he was shot by riding-in-tandem gunmen – who trailed him on his route, police said.
Ranay suffered gunshot wounds on his stomach and shoulder and was rushed by villagers to the Kabacan Polymedic Hospital.
The barangay official’s death has shocked villagers who urged the police to dig deeper into the case and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“Our chairman is a working public official. He has no known enemies. That is why he moves around the village alone on a motorbike,” said Merlita Villa, a resident, who said she is a relative of Ranay.
“He was an official who was willing to sacrifice for the sake of his constituents,” Villa added. (/PNA)
