By Victor Martin and Eva Visperas
SANTIAGO CITY, Isabela — Police are now probing the murder of a former board member and newly appointed municipal administrator of San Mateo town in this province who was gunned down Monday night.
Napoleon Hernandez, 59, a resident of Barangay San Marcos, was driving home in his Toyota Vios with his wife Placida after attending the inauguration of Mayor Gregorio Pua when he was shot in Dagupan village at around 7:20 p.m. His wife was unhurt.
Hernandez died while being treated in a hospital.
Isabela Gov. Rodito Albano III condemned the killing even as he appealed to the public to cooperate with the police to identify and arrest the assailants.
Placida said politics could be the motive for the murder of her husband, noting that prior to the incident, he received death threats.
Capt. Frances Littaua, Isabela police spokesperson, said Hernandez was gunned down by assailants who approached the car from behind near the Dagupan Resort.
The gunmen shot Hernandez through the driver’s side window, hitting his chest.
He died at the San Mateo Multicare Hospital.
His was wife was unhurt.
In Pangasinan, Rudy Marcha, 48, a teacher at the Eguia National High School in Dasol town, was driving his motorcycle with his wife Kathleen, 26, also a teacher at the same school, when he was shot dead.
Probers have yet to determine the motives for the killings.