HERMOSA, Bataan — Three still unidentified men shot and killed a farmer leader who ran but lost in the mayoralty race in the May 2019 elections, at the back of his house here Friday morning.
Family members immediately brought Honorio Samaniego, 66, of Barangay Almacen, Hermosa to a hospital in Dinalupihan, Bataan but attending physicians declared the victim dead on arrival.
Samaniego was a losing mayoralty candidate in Hermosa. He was former barangay chairman of Almacen for six years and president of Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Bataan (Almaba) in Hermosa.
Police Maj. Jeffrey Onde, Hermosa police chief, said that witnesses told investigators that victim had just arrived from his farm and was washing his hands in the kitchen sink at the back of his house when gunned down at about 8:20 in the morning.
Police Col. Villamor Tullao, Bataan police director, who rushed to the crime scene said that three suspects alighted from a gray Innova van and shot at the victim.
“May lumabas sa kotse na tatlong naka-bonet, armado sila ng hand gun na hindi pa natin matukoy kung .45 o 9mm. Then, nakarinig ng sunod-sunod na putok,” Onde said.
He said investigators recovered seven empty shells from still unknown caliber.
The victim’s wife was in heavy tears and begged off to be interviewed.
“Nag-coconduct tayo ng mga checkpoint, nakikipag-coordinate sa iba-ibang opisina at patuloy na nakikipag-ugnayan sa pamilya para malutas ang nangyaring pamamaril. Pagtutulong-tulungan namin na malutas ang problemang ito,” Onde said.
“Nagkakaroon tayo ng backtracking, inaalam natin kung ano ang personality ng biktima at from there, baka magkaroon tayo ng malinaw at comprehensive na motibo,” the police chief added.
