Lady barangay kapitan gunned down
SAN CARLOS CITY—Another public official here was gunned down April 3 in broad daylight, but police authorities were quick to point out that the crime was not politically motivated.
The victim, Ma. Carmelita Torre, 48, widow, lady barangay chaiperson of barangay Mestizo Norte was killed after speaking at the graduation program in Mestizo Norte Elementary School.
Superintendent Noel Vallo, city police chief, told The PUNCH the unidentified assassin approached the victim at the head table and shot her close range, hitting her on the right side of her body and in her neck with caliber .45 pistol.
“Definitely, politics is not one of the possible motives here. Please, let us not taint this with politics. It’s still very early for politicking,” Vallo said.
In April 2007, then mayor Julian Resuello was also gunned down inside the city plaza during the city fiesta celebration.
Ellen de Guzman, the school principal who was talking with Torre at the time, was left unhurt.
Vallo said the assassin did not wear any bonnet, an indication that he is not a local and did not fear being easily recognized. The suspect, together with two others, fled on board two motorcycles.
Vallo said the motive could be work-related as Torre was known as a very effective but strict leader.
Her barangay has once been adjudged “the Cleanest and Greenest Barangay”.
The police are looking into land dispute as Torre’s father was also gunned down many years ago for this reason.#
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