12 summoned over village chief’s slay

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — Twelve people have been summoned by the police to shed light on the murder of a barangay official in Calamba, Laguna on Friday.

Among those summoned were four security escorts of the victim, Mario Jun Cogay, 63, acting chief of Barangay Canlubang, according to M/Sgt. Jayson Paguio of the Calamba police.

Aside from the four, eight barangay councilmen and the winning but unproclaimed village chairman, Larry Dimayuga, were told to submit statements to the Special Investigation Task Group “Cogay.”

“All of them, their statements are almost the same. They said Cogay was kind, had no enemies and lived simply,” Paguio said.

Police have reviewed four of 60 video footage retrieved from closed-circuit television cameras installed in different areas near the crime scene.

“The assailants onboard a motorcycle were caught on the camera speeding away,” probers said, adding the assailants could be contract killers.

Reports said Cogay, 63, was shot dead in front of his house at past 5 a.m.

Calamba Mayor Roseller Rizal has offered P500,000 for any information leading to the arrest of the assailants.