A MAN was found dead in front of the house of Sta. Fe Mayor Jose Esgana in Barangay Talisay, Sta. Fe town in Bantayan Island at 11:30 pm Saturday.
The police identified the victim as 37-year-old Gilbert Garcia Delima, a resident of Barangay Suba in the nearby town of Bantayan.
Bantayan Island is composed of the towns of Sta. Fe, Bantayan and Madridejos.
PO3 Eugenio Santillan of the Sta. Fe police precinct said the shooting happened at the road in front of Esgana’s house and the perpetrator/s dragged Delima’s remains to Esgana’s gate based on the trail of blood leading to his home.
Police found one .38 revolver without serial number and loaded with five bullets on the victim’s left hand.
Also found in the crime scene were five empty shells and two deformed slugs from a .45 pistol. A black motorcycle was found on the road.
Mayor Esgana said he was inside the house at 11:30 pm when he heard a series of gunshots and he later saw the remains of Delima in front of his house.
Santillan said they tried to get eyewitnesses of the shooting to no avail.
The mayor’s house is 200 meters away from the public market and 300 meters away from the police station which is located at the old municipal building.
Santillan said they are still verifying if the shooting was politically motivated.
Delima’s remains are now at the St. Francis Homes of Sta. Fe town.