by Miriam G. Desacada
Ormoc City–A 56-year-old chairman of a barangay in Leyte, Leyte died on the spot in an ambush carried out by riding-in-tandem gunmen at sitio Laray of Barangay Naghalin in Kananga, Leyte Wednesday afternoon.
Police identified the slain victim as Raul Cosinillo, incumbent chairman of Barangay Mataloto in Leyte, Leyte. He sustained several gunshot wounds as his body slumped under the steering wheel of the Multicab he was driving at the time.
His wife, Mercedes, who was seated at the front passenger seat, was also hit and wounded. She was rushed to the Clinica Gatchalian in Ormoc City where she is now reportedly in stable condition. Their 21-year-old daughter Panthea, who was at the back seat escaped unhurt.
The Cosinillo family was on their way home to Leyte, Leyte when—upon reaching Naghalin in Kananga, Leyte—riding-in-tandem armed men, wearing black jackets and helmet, came abreast and fired several shots at the yellow Multicab driven by the barangay chairman.
Police investigation of the incident to determine the motive and identities of the perpetrators is underway, while a hot pursuit operation is being conducted, as of press time.
The victim’s brother-in-law, Aldwin Perez, told reporters in a brief interview that he knew nobody who had personal grudge with Raul, even if the forthcoming barangay elections may be one thing to be taken into consideration in the course of the investigation. —Miriam G. Desacada