A village councilor from Barangay Cagnocot, Villaba town in Leyte survived a gun attack on Monday afternoon after two unidentified assailants opened fire on him while he was riding a motorcycle with his wife.
Junnymel Delos Santos, the councilor, was hit by a gunshot on his left upper cheek and was quickly transported to Villaba Community Hospital by local rescuers for initial treatment.
He was later transferred to Ormoc Doctors Hospital in Ormoc City, where he is now reported to be in stable condition.
The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. when Delos Santos and his wife were on their motorcycle. Two men on another motorcycle approached them and shot at Delos Santos, causing him to lose control of his bike and crash into a coconut tree. Fortunately, his wife was unharmed during the attack.
After the shooting, the assailants fled toward Barangay Cagnocot proper. The Villaba Municipal Police Station immediately responded to the scene, launching an investigation and efforts to capture the suspects.
Former Leyte congressman Vicente Veloso condemned the attack, identifying Delos Santos as one of his political supporters. “I strongly condemn this attack against an elected village leader,” Veloso said in a statement on social media. “We call on our police authorities to ensure that justice is served by arresting those responsible for this incident.”
The third district of Leyte, where Villaba is located, has been flagged as a potential hotspot for election-related violence ahead of the 2024 midterm elections, following a series of shooting incidents, some of which involved supporters of local politicians.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the suspects or the incident to come forward and assist in the investigation.