CRIME SCENE. A policeman secures the scene of the deadly shooting Wednesday morning (Dec. 9, 2020) of Glan Padidu barangay chairman and Glan, Sarangani ex-officio councilor Isedrito Cañete along the national highway in Barangay Lagao, General Santos City. The slain official and his driver were on their way to the city proper aboard a gray Toyota Fortuner when they were waylaid by two motorcycle-riding suspects. (PNA GenSan photo by Richelyn Gubalani)
GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Unidentified gunmen shot dead a barangay chairman and ex-officio councilor of Glan town, Sarangani province while visiting here Wednesday morning.
Maj. Rommel Constantino, chief of Lagao police station, identified the victim as Isedrito Poncardas Cañete, 56, chairman of Barangay Glan Padidu and the president of the Liga ng mga Barangay of Glan.
He said the victim and his driver were on their way to the city proper aboard a gray Toyota Fortuner (NCY-3259) when they were waylaid by two motorcycle-riding suspects around 10:10 a.m.
“The vehicle was at a traffic stop in front of the Robinsons Mall when the gunmen approached and shot the victim several times,” he told reporters.
Constantino said Cañete suffered gunshot wounds on the head and body and was declared dead upon arrival in a nearby private hospital.
His driver, whose identity was withheld for security reasons, was unharmed, he said.
Police investigators recovered at the scene three empty shells and two slugs of a caliber .45 handgun.
Witnesses said the suspects, who were aboard an unmarked black scooter, hastily left the scene after the shooting.
Constantino said the investigation is still ongoing as to the motive of the incident and follow-up operations are underway against the gunmen.
“We’re coordinating with nearby business establishments for the possible CCTV (closed-circuit television) footages of the incident,” he said.
In a statement, the municipal government of Glan condemned the incident and called for justice for the slain victim and his family.
“We condole with the Cañete family and praying that he will be given immediate justice,” it said.
Cañete had also served as municipal councilor of Glan for three straight terms from 2010 to 2019. (PNA)
