Town councilor, 4 others killed in Masbate ambush

San Pascual town councilor Wenceslao Sinagpulo Jr. was dead on the spot after the civilian-type jeep he was riding was ambushed by unknown assailants at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in San Rafael village in the said town, Major Harold Cabunoc of the Philippine Army’s 9th Infantry Division said. Also killed during the incident were four of Sinagpulo’s supporters identified as Junjun Aragon, Nonoy Francisco, Onit Cotales and Ruel Ponti, added Major Cabunoc. An initial investigation of the ambush revealed that the victims were heading towards Mapanique village in the same municipality when a group of 10 heavily armed men open fired at them, according to Cabunoc. All five victims died in an instant due to gunshot wounds, he said. The armed men reportedly fled to a still unidentified location and are currently being pursued by soldiers in the area, Cabunoc added.—Andreo C. Calonzo/JV, GMANews.TV