A Camarines Sur town mayor who was shot and seriously wounded in Naga City Saturday succumbed to his injuries before dawn Sunday.

No suspects have been arrested for the murder of Lupi town mayor Leo Raul Matamorosa, although the police have CCTV footage of the incident.

His family said they couldn't think of any political motives behind the killing, as he was in his last term. He was a member of the Liberal Party. 

Matamorosa died at 1:30 a.m. Sunday, Senior Superintendent Antonio Gardiola Jr. said in an interview on dzBB radio. He added they are producing artist sketches of some of the suspects in the fatal shooting.

When asked if the killing was related to the 2013 elections, he said they are not discounting all angles at this time.

A report on Bombo Radyo said the family still could not believe politics was the motive for the shooting since he was in his last term as mayor.

An initial investigation showed the mayor was about to have his television set fixed at a service center in Naga City when he was shot.

The mayor was still in his vehicle when at least one gunman approached the vehicle and shot him in the head. Police are still trying to determine the motive for the shooting.

The Bombo Radyo report said the victim had even arranged to have his family join him for dinner Saturday night.

Baffled

Asked about possible motives for the mayor's killing, the victim's brother Bobby Matamorosa, former Lupi mayor, said: "Nagulat kami, wala kaming maisip na motibo... kasi ako 'yung mayor for 9 years, siya 'yung pumalit sa akin noong 2004. Wala namang kaaway... at walang kahit anumang threat."

"Unusual talaga ang nangyari kasi galing lang siya ng bahay, papuntang Naga.... Siya 'yung unang mayor na napatay," he added.

He said they will leave the investigation to the police. "Actually, 'yung police may nakuha sa CCTV kaso medyo malayo kasi.  Pinag-aaralan pa raw nila. Inaabangan nalang namin ang resulta."

According to the former mayor, he and his late brother belong to the ruling Liberal Party.

"Actually, nasa graduating term na siya, last term na niya as mayor. Hindi na siya tatakbo ulit."

Meanwhile, Police Supt. Renato Bataller of the Bicol Regional Public Information Office said Mayor Matamorosa was the first mayor to be killed in the region.

"Siya 'yung pinakaunang mayor naming namatay. Ang marami talaga, mga baranggay official. May kagawad sa Masbate na pinatay ngayong taon.

"Sa ngayon, iniimbestiga pa kung ano 'yung motibo."

"Nagco-conduct na rin ng follow-up investigation ang mga pulis. Mayroon nang tinayong Special Investigation Task Group Matamorosa, special tracker team."

The son of former President Gloria Arroyo, Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado Arroyo, a close friend of the mayor, mourned the death.

“RIP Mayor Raul Matamorosa. Gunned down yesterday. A good person and an even greater friend,” he said on his Twitter account.

Political violence

In early February, Malacañang had called on then Interior chief, the late Jesse Robredo, to get into the bottom of the killing of a Madaluyong City political adviser by a still unidentified assassin on February 3.
 
Also in May, Robredo warned that election-related violence may escalate during the months leading to the 2012 midterm polls.

He said this after the assassination of Vice Mayor Abel Martinez of Mambusao, Capiz, early in May . — Amanda Fernandez/ LBG/HS, GMA News