By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – Incumbent Mayor Joel Ruma of Rizal, Cagayan was shot dead by a still unidentified assailant during a campaign sortie on Wednesday night, police said Thursday.
An initial report reaching Camp Crame said the incident happened at about 9:30 p.m. at the barangay hall of Illuru Sur, where Ruma and his team were campaigning.
A civilian identified as Merson Abiguebel was injured.
Ruma and Abiguebel were brought to the nearest hospital, but the mayor was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.
Authorities have yet to identify the suspects responsible for the fatal shooting.
Police Regional Office 2 (Cagayan Valley) Director, Brig. General Antonio Marallag Jr. has ordered pursuit operations against the suspects and the implementation of high-risk checkpoint operations in strategic areas across the region.
“Mariin naming kinokondena ang karahasang ito, lalo na sa panahong tayo ay naghahanda para sa mapayapang halalan 2025. Hindi kami titigil hangga’t hindi namin naibibigay ang hustisya para sa mga biktima (We strongly condemn this act of violence, especially at this time when we are preparing to ensure a peaceful 2025 elections. We will not stop until we give justice to the victims),” Marallag said in a statement.
Sniper seen
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) information chief Col. Randulf Tuaño said Ruma might have been shot by a sniper based on the recovered shell of an Armalite rifle.
“Lumalabas sa kanilang [police] initial investigation na isang tama lang mula sa isang sniper rifle ang ginamit magmula sa isang vantage point (Their [police] initial investigation showed that only one shot from a sniper rifle was used from a vantage point)” Tuaño in a media briefing at Camp Crame.
Tuaño said the bullet entered Ruma’s right shoulder and exited through his back, penetrating his whole body.
He said Ruma’s security detail, composed of four cops, will undergo a paraffin test as the police also heard gunshots inside the barangay hall.
“Ifo-forensic din yung kanilang issued firearms para ma-determine natin kung sino possible na nakasugat sa mga ibang tao na wounded sa loob ng barangay (Their issued firearms are also being forensically examined so we can determine who may have injured the other people who were wounded within the barangay,” he added.
Tuaño said the PRO 2 has activated a special investigation task group (SITG) to probe Ruma’s killing.
The body will also also investigate whether the killing was politically motivated.
Tuaño said Ruma’s killing will be recommended to the Commission on Elections as “election-related incident pending completion of validation.” (PNA)
