Ex-barangay captain and companion wounded in Bangued, Abra shooting incident

Bangued, Abra – A former barangay captain and his companion are now recuperating in a hospital in Bangued, Abra, after they were shot by unknown suspects around 6 p.m. on Thursday, August 29.

Police proceeded to the scene after they received a phone call from a concerned citizen informing of a shooting incident that transpired 100 meters away from the Mudeng Bridge at Sitio Ramramot, Barangay San Antonio, Bangued.

Initial investigation disclosed that the victims were on board a Nissan Navarra and were headed to Barangay San Antonio when the incident occurred.

While nearing the incident scene, the two noticed a black vehicle overtaking their vehicle. Some seconds later, the unidentified suspects started firing their guns, injuring the victims.

Before they left the incident scene and headed towards Mudeng, La Paz, they even made a U-turn and fired some more bullets another time.

The former barangay captain identified as Marcelino Castillo Banayos, 58, sustained gunshot wounds on his head, while his nephew, named as Janssen Benauro Blanes, 20, was shot in his left arm and in his head.

They were later ferried to the Abra Provincial Hospital by the responding authorities.

A manhunt operation is now being conducted by the Bangued police to identify and arrest the suspects.

To recall, it was also on June 14 this year, that a similar incident transpired at Sitio Silag, Barangay Calot, Bangued. This resulted in the death of an individual while a barangay captain and his brother were hospitalized due to gunshot wounds.