School Principal Shot Dead in Masbate City

CAMP OLA, LEGAZPI CITY (24 February) - THE MOUNTING VIOLENCE in the province of Masbate has again claimed another life.

An elementary school principal in Barangay Nursery, Masbate City was reported to have been shot according to the Regional Election Monitoring Action Center (REMAC) at the PNP Regional Office-5 here, on Tuesday (February 23).

The Masbate police office identified the victim as, Ruel Doroja Gonzaga, 38, principal of the Nursery Elementary School in Masbate City.

Gonzaga died at the Masbate City Doctor's Hospital due to "Hypobolemic shock" after sustaining a fatal gunshot wound on the throat.

Gonzaga was reported to have attended a birthday party, and while parking his jeep at his residence, a man clad in black shirt approached him, asked his name, and poked a gun at the victim and shot him.

Investigators at the PNP Masbate City are still unsure if the shooting of the principal is election related.

The PNP-AFP "Task Force Masbate" has been on heightened alert after the series of shooting incidents were linked to brewing election related violence, and reported massing of private armies by ranking politicians.

The task force reports the current death toll from election-related violence at four dead and five recorded shooting incidents, from February 21 to 22, this year.

PNP Regional Office-5 spokesman, Police Supt. Eliciar Bron, also reported that "Task Force Masbate" has filed charges of violating the COMELEC "Gun-Ban" and for the illegal possession of firearms and ammunitions against Barangay Captain Cristito Bunadra.

The task force had served a search warrant from Judge Nilo Barasaga of the RTC, Masbate City, wherein high-powered firearms and ammunitions were seized from Bunadra's residence in Jamorawon, Milagros, Masbate last Feb. 21.

Recovered by the task force led by Police Chief Insp. Oscar Regala were: two Ingram Sub-machineguns, model M-11, with serial numbers: 180271, 276325; one Cal. 45 Colt pistol Mark IV with serial #. 180271; and one magazine for Cal. 45, with six rounds of ammunitions; three magazines for 9-MM Ingram with 38 rounds of ammunition.

According to Supt. Bron about 72 persons have been arrested since the PNP COMELEC checkpoints were conducted in Bicol.

He also noted that about 29 of the arrested persons were all from Masbate province. (SONNY SALES)

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