Former Samar mayor shot dead in Mandaluyong

A former mayor of a town in Samar province was shot dead in his house in Mandaluyong City Saturday night, even as police are not discounting politics as a motive for the killing. Former Motiong town mayor Constancio Pacanan Jr. succumbed to at least two gunshot wounds in the body, radio dzBB's Rodil Vega reported Sunday. Police are tracking down at least two men who were seen leaving the victim's house at Welfareville Compound shortly after neighbors heard shots at about 11:30 p.m., the report said. Investigators are verifying information the two men may even have joined the victim in a drinking spree before the shooting. The victim had served as mayor from 2004 to 2007. In the 2007 polls, he edged opponent Francisco Langi Sr. by three votes but a Samar court declared Langi the winner. He also lost his mayoralty bid in 2010. Police are verifying information Pacanan was planning to run in the 2013 mayoralty elections. An initial investigation showed Pacanan hosted an affair inside his house Saturday, shortly before the shooting. — LBG, GMA News