Dinagat board member shot dead after Sunday jogging

MANILA, Philippines – Dinagat Islands Sangguniang Panlalawigan board member Wenefredo Olofernes was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Surigao City on Sunday morning, July 7, the Surigao City police confirmed to Rappler.

Olofernes and his partner were riding their motorcycle on their way home from jogging at the provincial grandstand in Surigao City, when a gunman also in a motorcycle fired one shot, said the police.

The bullet hit the head of Olofernes, who was declared dead on arrival at the Caraga Regional Hospital, according to the police. Olofernes’ partner sustained bruises from their fall on the motorcycle.

Police was still conducting follow-up investigation as of posting time. (READ: Mayors, vice mayors killed under Duterte gov’t)

“In the recent elections, he ran as an independent and emerged on top of the race in the first provincial district with 13,141 votes from the municipalities of Basilisa, Libjo, Loreto, and Tubajon,” said Dinagat Islands Governor Kaka Bag-ao in a statement on Sunday.

Bag-ao noted that Olofernes did “not have any armed personnel with him when this despicable act happened, the reason for which is yet to determined.”

“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the brutal killing of Sangguniang Panlalawigan Board Member Wenefredo Olofernes,” said Bag-ao.

“We lost a good leader in Dinagat Islands today. I, together with the provincial government and each and every Dinagatnon, call for justice. We will ensure the speedy resolution of this criminal act along with the prosecution and conviction of all those involved in the death of Board Member Wenefredo Olofernes,” Bag-ao added. – Rappler.com