Comelec law dept OIC dies while undergoing operation

MANILA, Philippines - Lawyer Wynne Asdala, the acting chief of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) law department, died at a hospital in Manila City due to a gunshot wound that he sustained in an attack Monday noon. This was confirmed late Monday afternoon by SPO1 Renato Garay of the Manila Police District, who said Asdala expired at the Manila Doctor's Hospital while undergoing operation. A dzBB report quoted Elections Commissioner Rene Sarmiento as saying that Asdala died around 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sarmiento, together with acting Comelec chairman Romeo Brawner and Asdala's wife, Fatima, were inside the hospital's conference room as of posting time, the radio report said. Garay said Asdala was hit at the left side of his chest, right below his shoulder, after he was shot by one of two suspects riding on a motorcycle at around 12:40 pm Monday at the corner of A. Soriano Avenue and Cabildo Street. Asdala was walking at that time, on his way back to the Comelec office at the Palacio del Gobernador building, Garay said. The motive for the attack is still under investigation. Comelec resident physician, Dr. Gerard Sallao, who earlier went to Manila Doctors Hospital to check on Asdala, said the victim was in a 50-50 medical condition and was in comatose. “The entry point (of the bullet) was at his left shoulder but there was no point of exit for the bullet. That is why he is undergoing exploratory surgery to remove the bullet slug embedded in his body," Brawner earlier said. - GMANews.TV