MANILA (Bert Laride / 16 Dec) - Unidentified gunmen on Saturday shot dead a Filipino lawmaker and his bodyguard in an attack just outside a Catholic church in Quezon City, police said.
Police said Rep. Luis Bersamin, of Abra province, was shot in the head shortly after he stepped out of the Mt. Carmel Church in New Manila at around 5.30 p.m. The 62-year old politician was instantly killed. His bodyguard was able to fire on the attackers before he died. His driver, Allan Sumatan, was also shot and wounded in firefight with gunmen.
One boy was also hit by a stray bullet."The boy is wounded. They shot the boy," Sumatan told reporters.
He said the politician attended a wedding of a relative at the Mt. Carmel Church and was walking towards his car when the gunmen attacked. "They escaped on motorcycle, Sumatan said.
No individual or group claimed responsibility for the attack and police said it was investigating the killings. There were no immediate statement from either of Bersamin's family or relatives.
Police investigators said they recovered empty shells of .45-caliber pistol from the scene. Bersamin was a known ally of President Gloria Arroyo, but it was unknown if the attack had anything to do with politics. The killing of the Bersamin occurred just before Filipinos would elect their congressmen and senators in a national elections set in May.
The attack cxame just a day after authorities said it uncovered a plot by an unknown group to assassinate Rep. Prospero Nograles, of Davao City. Just early this week, another lawmaker, Robert Jaworski Jr., narrowly escaped death when his car, believed rigged with a bomb, exploded.
Both Nograles and Jamorski are supporters of Arroyo, whose presidency has been questioned by militant and civil groups and opposition politicians, who accused her of cheating in the 2004 national elections. Arroyo has repeatedly denied the accusations. (Mindanao Examiner)
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