Abra town councilor, 2 others killed in ambush — police

An official of a town in Abra province and two of his companions were killed in an ambush Tuesday night, a police official said Wednesday. Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) regional police spokesman Superintendent Leo Talleo said an investigation is being conducted to determine the motive in the killing of 37-year old Tineg town councilor Montano Inon. Also killed in the attack in Bangued town, Abra's capital, were Berting Inon, 45; and Diego Biglay, 25, Talleo said. According to Talleo, the victims were on a motorcycle on a national road in Bangued around 7 p.m. when armed men, on another motorbike, began firing at them in front of a gasoline station along Rizal Street. "The victims sustained multiple gunshot wounds in the body," said Talleo. The official said responding policemen rushed the victims to the Abra Provincial Hospital where they were declared dead on arrival. Recovered in the crime scene were four spent cartridges and a slug of a cal.-45 pistol. The assailants had elluded police checkpoints, but Talleo said pursuit operations are being conducted to track down the perpetrators. — LBG, GMANews.TV