THE Philippine National Police (PNP) in Eastern Samar province has launched an investigation into the killing of Mercedes town councilor Antonio Abris.
Police Senior Superintendent Felix Diloy, provincial police director in Eastern Samar, said they have already deployed their personnel to the area to investigate the shooting incident.
He said it was "an isolated case."
"Based on our research, this is the first shooting incident involving a town councilor as a victim in the area. We are investigating this," Diloy told Sunstar Philippines over a phone interview.
Diloy called for calm as he urged the public to cooperate with the authorities.
Abris, 45 years old and married, was shot dead while attending an event on the eve of the fiesta of Barangay Sung-an in Mercedes town at around 12:40 a.m. on August 25.
Initial investigation by the Mercedes Municipal Police Station revealed that the lone assailant, who was wearing a hooded jacket, approached Abris from behind and shot him once in the back of his head.
The gunman fled from the scene by mixing with the panicked crowd inside the basketball court.
Abris was rushed to Polymedic Hospital in the nearby town of Guiuan but was declared dead on arrival.
Police have yet to determine the motive in the shooting of Abris. (VoxPop Philippines)
