Pastor gunned down in Nueva Ecija

BY ARIEL P. AVENDAÑO

SAN ANTONIO, Nueva Ecija – A 69-year-old pastor serving as leader of senior citizens in their village was shot dead by unidentified armed men with facemasks in Sitio Pantoc Hacienda, Barangay San Francisco here at about 7 p.m. Sunday.

Police Cpl. Aldrin T. Pe Manuel, investigator on case, identified the victim as Domingo dela Peña, pastor of the Back to Christ Church and senior citizen chapter president in the village.

Probers learned that the suspects, who were wearing facemasks and black sweat shirts printed with “Barangay Police” logo, knocked on the victim’s front door and asked for the owner’s whereabouts.

As the victim opened the door, one of the gunmen peppered the victim with bullets.

The suspects even threatened the victim’s wife not to intervene before fleeing to Barangay Lambakin in Jaen town onboard an unregistered Honda Click motorcycle.

Police launched a manhunt operation for the suspects. (Ariel P. Avendaño)