X'mas ambush kills Mt. Province mayor; 5 men hunted

Police in Mountain Province are now tracking down at least five men linked to the brutal Christmas Day murder of Paracelis town mayor Cesar Rafael. Radio dzRH, quoting police reports, said Wednesday that five men were armed with M-16 rifles were involved in the killing of Rafael, 58, in Palitod village in Mountain Province Tuesday afternoon. However, police admitted they have yet to determine the motive behind the killing. Initial investigation showed the mayor was aboard a Toyota Hilux pickup (AHH-386) when at least five men waiting in ambush fired on him. The mayor was killed on the spot. Paracelis is a third-class town with a population of 18,985 people in 3,401 households. - GMANews.TV