File photo of vice mayor Policronio Dulay (left) during the meeting with the late Local Government Secretary Jessie Robredo and local government officials in Kabacan on August 13, 2012. Mindanews File Photo by Keith Bacongco
KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews/ 11 January) – The vice mayor of Kabacan town in North Cotabato, Policronio Dulay, was killed by an unidentified gunman at around 2:45 p.m. Friday, a police official said.
Supt. Leo Ajero, chief of police of Kabacan, said the victim suffered multiple gunshot wounds from a .45 caliber pistol and was rushed to the Kabacan Medical Specialist where physicians pronounced him dead upon arrival.
Reports reaching Kidapawan City said that Dulay has just left MC Square after buying some grocery items inside the department store along USM Avenue in the Poblacion when the suspect shot him many times in the different parts of his body.
After his target fell, the suspect reportedly tucked his pistol in his waist and walked casually to an accomplice waiting in a motorcycle parked nearby.
The suspects fled to unknown direction, reports said.
Police have yet to find out if the killing is politically-motivated.
Dulay would have been the running mate of Kabacan Mayor George Tan under the Liberal Party in the May 13 elections.
The victim was pitted against Datumaido Sultan, an independent candidate.
In Cotabato City, the victim’s son, Nilo Dulay, told a local radio station that he believes that politics was behind the slaying of his father.
“Maybe those people who wanted to kill him are happy now,” the younger Dulay said.
“My father could freely roam the town confidently because he had never received death threats nor have enemies. He enjoys mingling with town people,” he added.
Authorities have launched an operation to track the suspects.
Dulay was on his second term as vice mayor. (Malu Cadelina Manar and Ferdinandh Cabrera/MindaNews)
