A board member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Bulacan and his driver were killed in a broad-daylight ambush in Barangay Ligas in the provincial capital at around 5 p.m. on Thursday.
Bokal Ramil Capistrano, who heads the Liga ng mga Barangay ng Bulacan, and his driver, Shedrick Suarez, were aboard a silver SUV-Fortuner on their way home after attending an SP session.
CCTV footage from the barangay showed another van and two motorcycles tailing the SUV of Capistrano when the unidentified gunmen opened fire, killing them on the spot.
Investigators have yet to identify the perpetrators as of press time.
Initially, politics has been discounted as a motive behind the attack since the victim is not a candidate for any position. However, Capistrano is the barangay captain of Caingin, San Rafael, Bulacan.
Bulacan local government officials have since expressed condolences to the bereaved families of Capistrano and Suarez.
Malolos Mayor Christian Natividad, Bulacan 5th District Rep. Ambrosio Cruz, 3rd District Rep. Lorna Silverio, 1st District Rep. Danny Domingo ), San Jose del Monte Mayor Arthur Robes, and former San Ildefonso mayors Sazo Galvez and Carla Galvez-Tan, who are close friends of the victim, have since offered sympathies on their respective social media accounts.
They urged police authorities to expedite the investigation and swiftly bring those responsible to justice. Meanwhile, Police Regional Director Brig. General Redrico Maranan immediately formed the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) “Capistrano” to lead the investigation.
“I believe his ambush was politically motivated,” San Rafael Mayor Cholo Violago, who claimed that Capistrano is his campaign manager in the coming elections, told Manila Standard..
Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez strongly condemned the ambush-slaying of Capistrano, and Suarez.
“We condemn in the strongest terms possible the ambush that killed Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member and ABC President Capistrano and his driver Suarez,” Romualdez said.
He expressed his deepest sympathies to the families of the victims and the Bulacan community.
“We extend our condolences to the families of SP Capistrano and Suarez, Barangay Caingin of San Rafael municipality, and the people of Bulacan,” he said.
Romualdez also emphasized the need for immediate action from all concerned authorities.
“We join the representatives from Bulacan and the Bulacan provincial government led by Gov. Daniel Fernando in pressing all our law enforcement agencies and authorities to investigate and apprehend the perpetrators quickly. Justice should be served,” Speaker Romualdez said. With Maricel Cruz
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Bulacan board member, driver ambushed.”
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