Barangay Chair Danilo Paca, Sr., 50, succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds from a .45 pistol and was declared dead on arrival at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Hospital in nearby San Jose City, according to PO2 Raymund Dingle, investigator.
Paca was the second village head killed in Nueva Ecija this month amid the call from police for them to fully cooperate in the ongoing anti-illegal drug campaign called Oplan Double Barrel.
But unlike in the case of George Mangalindan of Talavera town, police have not reported recovery of any drugs from Paca.
Investigation showed Paca, along with his treasurer Jocelyn Esmeña were on their way home from Barangay Gabaldon when the suspects “with no apparent reason shot the victim several times on his head.”
Dingle said police have yet to establish motive as well as identify the perpetrators of the killing.
Senior Supt. Manuel Cornel, Nueva Ecija police director, disclosed that 155 of the 849 village heads in the province were found to be “uncooperative” with the implementation of Oplan Tokhang.
At least 20 of them, he said, were at the police drugs watchlist.
“Nakakalungkot sapagkat yung ibang mga kapitan e sila pa yung involved, ayaw pang tumulong. Ngayon ang panawagan ko sa kanila ay sumuko na lang sila sa lalong medaling panahon para maclear yung mga pangalan nila,” Cornel said.
He urged barangay officials to fully cooperate as the provincial police office implements a village- based reformatory program for drug addicts.