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Ex-Mayor Pilapil |
Former Mayor Delfi n Pilapil, Jr. and four other companions miraculously escaped unhurt after unidentified armed men fired at their vehicle Wednesday evening, April 14 on their way back to the Lagonoy town proper after a campaign sortie in a mountain barangay. Pilapil who is Kampi candidate for mayor in the Third District town said that at about 10 o’clock in the evening on Wednesday on his way home to the town proper from the Gawad Kalinga Housing Project at Tinidtiron, Binanuahan, Lagonoy he saw a roadblock some 50 meters ahead.
Sensing danger he ordered the driver, Jose Pacis, 44, to stop and alight from their Besta van and immediately take cover but his driver panicked and just the same sped towards the roadblock. It was only after the first burst of gunfire a few meters before the road block that he stopped the vehicle whereupon they all hurriedly jumped from their van and laid flat on the ground. The ambushers then sprayed the vehicle with bullets.
However, apparently thinking that the van passengers were already killed or injured the ambushers who reportedly wore bonnets, did not anymore approach the vehicle.
Aside from his driver, in the vehicle with former Mayor Pilapil were Lemuel Navea, 35; Kgd. Lingen Alfon, 42; Ruben Peloneo, 65; and James Peteza, 12.
Police investigating the incident could not yet come up with any clue as to the identities of the ambushers. Meanwhile, skeptical media and Pilapil’s political opponents said the incident could just be a mere drama instigated by Pilapil himself to drum up sympathy votes. But Pilapil strongly denied the taunt saying he was not stupid to risk being killed.
Pilapil is running against incumbent Mayor Asela Florece of the NPC and Board Member Ferdinand Melgarejo of Lakas-CMD.
