Moreno
A top official of the Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines (VMLP) yesterday condemned the recent killing of the vice mayor of Villaba town in Leyte and raised suspicion that the incident was politically motivated.
Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to hasten its investigation on the shooting of Villaba Vice Mayor Martin Larrazabal. He said the police should have a lead on the case by now.
“We are trying to get the attention of the PNP because we find their investigation slow. It could be election violence and a very early one considering the election is still two years away,” Moreno said.
Moreno yesterday visited Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale as part of the league’s efforts to secure support for the call to expedite the resolution of Larrazabal’s death.
Moreno, a former actor, was accompanied by Dumanjug Vice Mayor Efren Guntrano Gica, the president of the VMLP Cebu Chapter.
Larrazabal was shot and killed by two unidentified assailants inside his own restaurant and bar last Nov. 17 in barangay Del Norte in Villaba town. The gunmen rode in motorcycles when they shot the official at 11:45 a.m.
Seven bullets were fired at the vice mayor, one hitting him in the heart. Moreno believes that Larrazabal was planning to run again as municipal mayor, a position he held for three terms.